London duo West Ham United and Fulham will reportedly go up against one another for Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall in the summer transfer window.
According to London Evening Standard, Nottingham Forest star Joe Worrall is a player in demand. Both West Ham United and Fulham are in the fray to secure the signature of the 25-year-old English centre-back in the upcoming 2022 summer transfer window.
Worrall has been one of the standout performers for a Nottingham Forest side that is one step away from securing promotion to the Premier League. They face Huddersfield Town in the Championship Playoff final at Wembley this Sunday.
Regardless of how the night pans out, Worrall could be in line to feature in the English top flight. David Moyes’s West Ham United have done well over the last two seasons but continue to be hampered by their defensive susceptibility. They have now eyed the 25-year-old as a solution to their problems.
The Hammers have four senior centre-backs on their current roster namely Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna, Issa Diop and Craig Dawson. Of the four Ogbonna is not getting any younger, while Diop could be sold this summer amid interest from Manchester United. Dawson is not exactly the most reliable, and Zouma, for his part, has been privy to unrequired controversies.
Money will be made available to Moyes this summer, and the West Ham boss must infuse his current squad with fresh blood. Worrall might not be the standout name as far as central defensive reinforcements are considered but could prove to be a shrewd signing.
A technically gifted player, Worrall is good on the ball and helps bring it out from the back. He is, however, not the strongest in the air, and Moyes could help him overcome it. The West Ham manager has shown an aptitude to get the best out of players coming up from the Championship. Whether the 25-year-old English centre-back will join the list remains to be seen.
West Ham face competition from Fulham, who gained promotion to the top flight earlier this month. The Cottagers need a solid defence to avoid relegation, and signing Worrall will give them a fighting chance next season. Unlike West Ham, the London giants will not be able to provide European football, and it could prove to be a decisive factor.
Worrall came through the ranks at Forest before going on to establish himself in the first team. He is unlikely to leave the club should they gain promotion to the Premier League. It would appear that the future of the 25-year-old will be decided in front of a packed Wembley on Sunday.
