West Ham United are among the clubs interested in the services of Borussia Dortmund defender Dan-Axel Zagadou.
A recent report from L’Equipe, as relayed by Sport Witness, has offered an update on West Ham United’s pursuit of a new defender this January. The Premier League outfit are currently exploring three potential targets in the market, a list that includes Borussia Dortmund star Dan-Axel Zagadou.
The Hammers are closely monitoring Zagadou’s situation as the defender looks to negotiate a new deal with the Bundesliga giants. His current contract at Signal Iduna Park expires at the end of the season, potentially allowing interested parties to snap him up on a free transfer next summer. There is also a possibility that the player may leave the club in January in a cut-price deal.
A product of the PSG youth academy, Zagadou has been a part of the Dortmund setup for four-and-a-half years now. He was brought in as a young prospect with the potential to become one of the finest in Europe.
However, the defender’s progress in the Bundesliga has been marred by a series of injury-related spells on the sidelines. He has featured in just 80 competitive matches for Dortmund, failing to muster more than 1,300 minutes of league action in any of his four completed seasons in the Bundesliga.
Nevertheless, the French-Ivorian has continued to attract attention due to his imposing 1.96m frame and a rather impressive positioning sense. While Dortmund are keen on extending his stay at the club, West Ham’s interest in the defender stems from an apparent injury crisis that has ruled out Angelo Ogbonna for the remainder of the campaign, whereas Kurt Zouma and Aaron Cresswell have struggled with knocks as well.
It has compelled David Moyes to enter the market for a new defender. The West Ham coach believes Zagadou could be a potential answer to his defensive woes during the second half of the campaign, and at the age of 22, he may also turn out to be a smart long-term investment.
However, the Hammers are set to face stiff competition from Manchester United and Newcastle United in the pursuit of the Dortmund centre-back. Perhaps more importantly, their pursuit of Zagadou might only be a dead end, as the defender could decide to extend his contract in Germany as per local reports.
West Ham have no shortage of alternatives, though. Along with Zagadou, the Londoners are also exploring the possibility of signing Niklas Sule, while Moyes is also keen on landing Tosin Adarabioyo, who offers experience in English football.
