Five Craig Dawson replacements as West Ham ready for transfer exit

West Ham star Craig Dawson looks set to leave the club.

Wolves have made a bid for the much loved centre-back, with manager David Moyes confirming the club has neither accepted or declined the offer.

Dawson has been a revelation since he arrived from Watford and he will be tough to replace, but who could the Hammers make a move for as they search for the next cult hero.

West Ham should be interested in these five players as possible Craig Dawson alternatives.

To begin, if his West Ham career is over this month, or in the summer when his contract expires, Dawson deserves a huge thank you from all fans.

Most wrote him off when he signed, slamming the transfer. However, he helped the club qualify for Europe twice, make the Europa League semi-final, put in one of the all-time best individual performances away at Lyon, travel down for hours to training/games from his midlands home and playing on through injuries to help the Hammers.

He only wants to go as the journey to London and time away from his family is taking his toll, which is understandable. West Ham could replace him with:

Harry Souttar

The Australian defender, 24, was exceptional at the World Cup and is not to dissimilar to Dawson. Souttar is 6ft 6in, commanding in the air and a tough tackler. But he is not just a big lad – he is fantastic with the ball at his feet more than capable of playing great long balls and progressive passes between the lines. He’s at Stoke in the Championship, who don’t look like getting promoted so he could be available.

Axel Disasi

The Monaco man was a surprise inclusion in France’s World Cup squad following injuries and played three times on their route to the final. Disasi is strong in the air and a physical centre-half. West Ham have been linked with him but he will not come cheap with clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham also keen. He is one more likely to join in the summer given the large fee needed to buy him and Monaco’s desire to keep him.

Nat Phillips

The Liverpool centre-back remains at the club despite many rumours linking him with a move away. Moyes supposedly liked the look of him after he made a number of appearances in the 2020/21 season amid an injury crisis at Anfield. He impressed with his aerial prowess and calmness at the back but he is not of the quality needed to play for Liverpool. Phillips should be open to a move away for more regular football.

Harry Maguire

Man Utd could cash-in on their captain as he has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford since boss Erik ten Hag came in. Maguire has been disastrous at times for United and although he is over criticised he has not been good enough. However, he proves in an England shirt regularly that he is still a top defender that could do with a transfer to rediscover the top performances he’d show at Leicester.

Attila Szalai

Hungary and Fenerbahce’s top centre-back may be a little unknown but he should not be snubbed. Szalai has been linked with a move to a number of Premier League clubs and he has been compared to Virgil van Dijk. The 24-year-old is incredible on the ball, helping pass out from the back, something Moyes is interested in, and he is capable of dribbling out from defence on marauding runs. Plus, he can play left-back.