Julien Lopetegui is rebuilding West Ham United’s rearguard. After taking over as manager from David Moyes, the Spanish tactician has already strengthened his front line by bringing in 18-year-old winger Luis Guilherme for £25.5 million.
It is anticipated that Nayef Aguerd would depart, and captain Kurt Zouma may possibly be sold. An revamp of the core defense is underway. A right-back is also required, as Ben Johnson is close to joining Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town.
West Ham eyeing new right-back
Fabrizio Romano reports that West Ham and Southampton are in talks to sign Kyle Walker-Peters, and that Flynn Downes—who spent last season on loan at St.
Mary’s—may be included in the deal. The former Tottenham Hotspur prospect isn’t the only player being thought about to challenge Vladimir Coufal, though.
According to The Times, the Irons have renewed their interest in Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United. The player is considered surplus to requirements and only has one year left at Old Trafford.
Why West Ham Need a right-back
Wan-Bissaka was a £50 million acquisition made by Man United from Crystal Palace in 2019. He has made 190 appearances for the elite Premier League team, taking home two championships: the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
Jamie Carragher called the 26-year-old the “best one-on-one full-back in the world” back in 2020. The player has long been considered “a real monster in defence” by people like talent scout Jacek Kulig.
With Wan-Bissaka having started just 20 Premier League games the previous season, West Ham could strike gold here, giving a gifted defender a fresh start and an opportunity to resurrect his career. Wan-Bissaka is a tackling machine with deceptive ball-progressing quality.
The £90k-a-weekWan-Bissaka is one of the best defenders in the Premier League and could significantly improve the West Ham backline, possibly even giving players like Jarrod Bowen steely security. He will be the first to admit that his performances haven’t been up to par lately.
As Lopetegui looks to implement an intense pressing game that maximizes the attacking qualities of wide forwards and wide defenders assist them by pushing up the field, Bowen is likely to sit in his preferred right-flanking position next season with an incentive to sign a center-forward.
Bowen would thrive under Wan-Bissaka’s strong leadership, and according to FBref, the Red Devils defender is among the top 17% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion over the previous season. He also possesses the deft passing technique to preserve fluidity and guarantee that West Ham starts the new era with a positive vibe.
