LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: A general view inside the stadium as Neal Maupay of Brighton & Hove Albion scores their team's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion at London Stadium on December 27, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The Hammers brought in two new centre backs over the summer as ambitious deals for Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo materialised.
West Ham did though allow two centre backs to move out on loan as Julen Lopetegui shapes his squad.
Nayef Aguerd has joined Real Sociedad whilst Kurt Zouma headed to Al-Orobah in Saudi Arabia.
That leaves West Ham needing to find another centre back and they are looking towards the free agent market
The most prominent name so far appears to be John Egan.
The Republic of Ireland international is a free agent having left Sheffield United at the end of last season.
Egan is now in talks with West Ham as he potentially makes a return to the Premier League.
The Athletic even claim that Egan will now play for West Ham in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Dagenham and Redbridge.
West Ham will now weigh up whether to sign Egan on a free transfer – just two years since looking into cash deal.
The Sun reported back in September 2022 that West Ham were ready to offer £12million to sign Egan from Sheffield United.
It was suggested that David Moyes had picked out Egan as his top target in the summer of 2022 but no deal materialised.
Moyes may have moved on from West Ham but Egan could finally end up at the London Stadium after all.
Egan impressed in the Premier League and the Championship for Sheffield United and earned huge praise from Charlie Nicholas.
Nicholas hailed Egan as ‘absolutely brilliant’ and a ‘warrior’ off the back of his displays in 2020.
Egan is nearly 32 now though and there is ultimately a reason why Sheffield United let him go even after relegation to the Championship.
Egan suffered a serious achilles injury in September 2023 – ironically away at West Ham – and hasn’t played a single game at club or international level since.
Maybe the defender is over those issues but West Ham need to look closely at Egan’s injury and make sure he is ready for Premier League action if called upon before striking a deal.
