Definitely Happening: West Ham now eyeing moves to sign “strong” 6ft 6 defender and “intelligent” forward
Following their humiliating 5-0 loss to Fulham in the Premier League the previous game, West Ham United received a stark reminder that, under David Moyes, they are far from being the finished product.
The Hammers may look to the January transfer window to secure a double winter boost, with two names reportedly added to their shortlist ahead of what could be a busy month in the market. The Hammers have a busy second half of the season between Premier League action and European football to balance.
West Ham transfer news
With the help of Declan Rice, West Ham was able to bring in players who have been performing exceptionally well at the London Stadium, including Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse, and Edson Alvarez. They have avoided any hint of relegation this time around thanks to their summer business, and Moyes’ team is actually doing very well. They are currently ranked as high as ninth in the Premier League and are ahead of their London rivals, Chelsea. West Ham could now use the same transfer ploy in January.
Reliable Sun reporter Alan Nixon claims that West Ham is considering making a double deal to sign Dan-Axel Zagadou and Akor Adams in January. The 6’6″ former, who is currently at VfB Stuttgart, has been on the Hammers’ radar since the previous season and could take Nayef Aguerd’s place as he may be the target of a loan-to-buy agreement with Lyon.
Adams has also been added to West Ham’s shortlist, in the meantime. If Michail Antonio’s absence proves to be longer than anticipated, the London club may pursue the Montpellier forward, as the Jamaican sustained a knee injury in November while on international duty.
“Strong” Zagadou and “Intelligent” Adams could be West Ham upgrades
It appears that West Ham, who are currently in the top half of the Premier League, are eager to get even better. Adams would undoubtedly be an improvement over Antonio, as demonstrated by his goals this season. This season, the Montpellier forward has made 15 appearances and scored seven goals; in contrast, Antonio’s statistics indicate that he has only scored twice in all competitions. Numerous people have praised the West Ham target, including John Utaka, the youth coach at Montpellier, who called the forward “intelligent”.
Like Adams, Zagadou’s stats prove that he’d also be an upgrade for West Ham. Here’s how the Stuttgart defender compares to Aguerd this season:
| Player | Progressive Passes Per 90 | Tackles Won Per 90 | Interceptions Per 90 | Clearances Per 90 |
| Dan-Axel Zagadou | 4.34 | 0.62 | 1.5 | 5.04 |
| Nayef Aguerd | 2.65 | 0.52 | 1.09 | 4.42 |
Given the stats, it should come as no surprise that former Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose wanted to hang onto the defender before he left for Stuttgart. During a press conference, Rose stated:
“I would be overjoyed if Daxo chose to remain with Borussia Dortmund. He is a talented young central defender with exceptional skill. He is fast, physically fit, and has a good left foot. Above all, I hope he continues to be well. He is, in my opinion, a crucial member of our team..”
