West Ham hold talks with Aston Villa’s Kortney Hause

West Ham are believed to have held preliminary talks with Aston Villa centre-back Kortney Hause.

Hause actually began his career with West Ham in the ‘Academy of Football’ up until the age of 16 and he is thought to be keen on a return.

The Hammers are eyeing a centre-back signing after some unconvincing defensive performances recently while Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna have been out injured.

West Ham have discussed the possibility of bringing Kortney Hause from Aston Villa to the club in January.

The 26-year-old, since leaving West Ham has played for Wolves and Wycombe and Gillingham as well as Aston Villa.

He helped Villa gain promotion back to Premier League in 2019 while on loan, he then made his move permanent for £3 million. Since then, he has been mainly a back-up to Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.

Hause would provide a cheap alternative for David Moyes compared to the likes of Nat Phillips and Matthias Ginter who have been linked.

There is plenty that would make Hause a shrewd signing, being English he increases West Ham’s home grown quota, he is happy to be a substitute allowing the Hammers to save spending big to the summer when there are more players available, he has Premier League experience and he is left-footed meaning he can naturally replace the void Ogbonna has left.

Issa Diop played poorly in that position in the 3-2 home defeat to Leeds on the left hand side of the back four next to Aaron Cresswell.

Additionally, Hause is 6ft 3in, which is perfect for Moyes’ style of liking tall and strong central defenders who can be big aerial threats in both boxes.

Reliable source @ExWHUemployee said he would “cover” a move for the former England Under-21 player in his next update but hinted that he “fits the bill”.

A centre-back is not all West Ham need, a striker is wanted too, French Ligue 1 has been closely scouted recently.

However, with Steven Gerrard in the process of building Aston Villa in his own way after the signing of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne; Hause could become available if his new boss doesn’t see him in his long-term plans.