Staying put: Craig Dawson
(Picture: Getty Images)West Ham boss David Moyes says he has no concerns over Craig Dawson’s commitment after the centre-back was denied a deadline day move to Wolves.
Dawson was keen to join the Midlands club, where he had been offered a three-year contract, in order to be closer to his young family in Cheshire.
The Hammers were reluctantly ready to sanction a sale, with Wolves having bid £4million, plus £2m in add-ons, but on the condition that they were able to secure a replacement.
That fell through, however, when loan target Jan Bednarek instead joined Aston Villa from Southampton and Dawson was informed that he would not be allowed to depart.
“He was our player so he was always going to be here unless we got something which would suit us and it didn’t work out that way,” Moyes said. “He is here so we are fine with that.
“Wolves had made an offer and I think it came quite close but it didn’t get over the line.”
Dawson was a key part of the Hammers side that reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last term but is yet to feature this season, having struggled with a thigh injury during preseason.
Moyes confirmed the 32-year-old is still “a little while” from a first-team return, but has no doubts over the former Watford man’s willingness to contribute when fit.
“Dawson has been a solid pro, solid man the whole way through so we expect much the same from him and just trying to get him back to fitness now is my key because we are a little bit short defensively,” Moyes added.
Moyes has bolstered his options at centre-back this summer with the arrivals of Nayef Aguerd from Rennes and Thilo Kehrer from PSG.
While Aguerd is himself sidelined due to an ankle injury suffered in preseason, Kehrer has become a first-team regular immediately.
Despite conceding a penalty and scoring an unfortunate own-goal in two home appearances so far, the German has made an encouraging start to life at the London Stadium, with Moyes revealing he is already emerging as a dressing room leader.
“Amazingly, I already see Thilo Kehrer stepping up in the dressing room, big personality, big voice,” Moyes said. “I said about players taking time to adapt, and it may sound like a manager’s excuse, but I actually think he has adapted really well.
“He has had a couple of moments but you would have to say he has come in and played well and showed in the dressing room he has a voice and trying to help the players.”
