West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has confirmed he is looking at the free agent market and a host of defenders have been linked.

The departures of Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna have left West Ham with only three senior centre-backs.

Throw in the fact that Ben Johnson – who also deputised there on occasion – and Thilo Kehrer have also left the Hammers, it’s easy to see why Julen Lopetegui wants a fourth central defender option.

Especially as the Spaniard has made it clear he wants the flexibility to play three at the back for certain matches – and even mid-game as he has already done several times.

West Ham’s new head coach has stated he wants two senior players for every position.

And Lopetegui also confirmed he is looking at the free agent market over the international break.

That means signing number 10 of the summer could be on the cards for the Irons.

Ex Liverpool defender Joel Matip, former Atletico star Mario Hermoso, World Cup winner Mats Hummels and Irishman John Egan have all been linked as possible free transfer arrivals.

West Ham have until the Premier League final squad deadline on September 14th to bring someone in.

Hermoso and Hummels – who actually snubbed West Ham in the summer – are joining Roma.

Lopetegui should bring ex West Ham star home instead of Egan

And speculation has intensified that ex Sheffield United defender Egan could now join West Ham.

The top spokesman at the club confirmed to Hammers News that West Ham are indeed ‘taking a look at Egan’.

Boyhood Hammer Tomkins makes more sense than Egan

When West Ham sold James Tomkins to Crystal Palace for £10m back in 2016 it was seen as a questionable decision.

There was no doubt boyhood Hammers fan and academy graduate Tomkins was going to have a fight on his hands to be first choice long-term at West Ham.

But many fans felt the club should have done all it could to keep West Ham people like Tomkins in the squad.

Players who know what it takes and means to play for West Ham.

Tomkins made 243 appearances for West Ham – just two less than Declan Rice.

But the Basildon boy wanted to be a starter and West Ham felt £10m of pure profit was too good to turn down from the Eagles at the time.

Now 35, Tomkins went on to make nearly 140 appearances for Palace until being released this summer.

Fit and with no injury issues, Tomkins would surely be the better choice as a short-term fourth choice central defensive cover for his boyhood club?

Tomka is fit and injury free – bring him home

Speaking in an interview London News about his plans for this season on leaving Palace, Tomkins made it clear he has no intention of retiring yet.

“In the back of my mind I’m not finishing yet,” Tomkins said.

“I do feel like there’s a few years left in me, for sure. It’s just whereabouts. We obviously don’t know yet.

“I’m just going to stay positive, stay fit in the summer and enjoy it as well.”

It’s important to have as many true club men and women in the building as possible at West Ham.

Tomkins would give Lopetegui experienced back-up on the pitch but off it he could be just the sort of character the Hammers need as they look to knit their new-look team together.

He remains close with fellow academy graduate Mark Noble – now West Ham’s sporting director.

So perhaps Noble should get on the phone to Tim Steidten and Lopetegui.

West Ham is Tomkins’ club and this could be the perfect way to sign off his career by coming home.