West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has confirmed the club will focus on promoting academy players in a bid for defensive cover.
The Hammers enjoyed an active summer transfer window, bringing in a total of ten players as part of a significant overhaul under Lopetegui – albeit one of those in young French midfielder Mohamadou Kante has been signed as an academy prospect.
Lopetegui has seen his defensive options overhauled. Max Kliman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have all arrived, although a number of departures had appeared to have left the Irons head coach relatively light.
Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Thilo Kehrer all left, meaning teenage academy graduate Kaelan Casey was named on the bench for the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City before the international break and that prompted the club to explore the free agent market.
Standard Sport understands former Sheffield United defender John Egan and ex-Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip were under consideration as potential options.
Still, speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Fulham on Saturday, Lopetegui suggested the club would instead focus on their academy players for cover rather than signing a free agent.
“We lost [Nayef] Aguerd and didn't sign a centre-back so that is why we have to look towards the academy players for this position,” he said.
The Hammers may have striker Niclas Fullkrug available for Saturday’s game at Craven Cottage despite the Germany international picking up a knock while in action for his country.
