Relegation – threatened West Ham fans are likely to be viewing the January transfer window much like five year old kids playing Monopoly for the first time, shrieking ‘buy it’ at every opportunity: The truth of the Hammers defence is that just about anybody mentioned does seem an upgrade on the woeful ‘£40 million Kilman’.

Therefore every time a new name crops up – be it Eric Dier or Brentford’s stalwart Ethan Pinnock there is a tendency to yell – “yes! go buy him” – on the basis that each and every one of these ‘linked’ centre backs can offer West Ham more than they have at present – especially with Mavropanos likely out for a months or more.

The latest duo of defenders on the West Ham radar are largely unknown in England.

Footballfancast.com claims :

“West Ham have now joined the race to sign RB Leipzig defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu” who I have to confess is largely unknown to me, along with the other centre-back apparently being scrutinised:

“the Irons have now set out to strengthen their options at the heart of defence this month, with it recently being revealed 21-year-old OH Leuven centre-back Roggerio Nyakossi”

On...