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West Ham have a NEW number one defensive target

ByHenry Tomlinson|
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 20: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Jonathan Tah of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Volkswagen Arena on September 20, 2020 in Wolfsburg, Germany. Fans are set to return to Bundesliga stadiums in Germany despite to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. Up to 20% of stadium's capacity are allowed to be filled. Final decisions are left to local health authorities and are subject to club's hygiene concepts and the infection numbers in the corresponding region. (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 20: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Jonathan Tah of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Volkswagen Arena on September 20, 2020 in Wolfsburg, Germany. Fans are set to return to Bundesliga stadiums in Germany despite to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. Up to 20% of stadium's capacity are allowed to be filled. Final decisions are left to local health authorities and are subject to club's hygiene concepts and the infection numbers in the corresponding region. (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

West Ham have been frustrated in their attempts to sign a central defender this summer, but they now have a new number one target.

Moves for Daniele Rugani, James Tarkowski, Welsey Fofana and Duje Caleta-Car by West Ham have all failed. Now the Hammers are planning a move for Bayern Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah according to ITK ExWHUemployee.

David Moyes has been chasing a centre-back since he made the switch to a back-three system. The Hammers only have two senior centre-backs fit at the moment as Issa Diop is self-isolating after testing positive with COVID-19.

This ‘injury’ to Diop means Fabian Balbuena and Aaron Cresswell are having to play. In the last two Premier League games, they have been brilliant as West Ham have beaten Wolves and Leicester City. Despite these wins, reinforcements are still needed.

This is where Jonathan Tah would come in. The German defender was once one of the most promising defenders in Germany and has appeared nine timed for the national side. In recent times the 24-year-old has fallen down the pecking order and could be available to sign.

Tah stands at almost two metres tall and is very strong, making him defensively reliable in the air. Even though Tah can be clumsy at times, he still has a decent pace for a man of his size. Only 24-years-old Tah could become a long-term option for the Hammers if a permanent deal is agreed.

West Ham does have funds available after David Sullivan went on TalkSport and spoke of the clubs “£40 million budget”. This budget will be slightly less now after the club signed Vladimir Coufal on Friday from SK Slavia Prague for a fee of €6 million.

There should also be plenty of room in the wage budget after the exits of many first-team players this summer. Grady Diangana, Carlos Sanchez, Albian Ajeti, Jordan Hugill, Roberto and Pablo Zabaleta have all left the club already.

There may be more room in the squad if the exits of Josh Cullen and Robert Snodgrass go through. Cullen is close to joining Anderlecht and Snodgrass could join Celtic on loan. Either way, It is set to be a hectic deadline day for the Hammers.

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