S Poddar
West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui has hinted that the London club may change its mind over their defensive requirements this summer and rely on the output of the academy rather than trying to sign free agents.
In the summer transfer period, West Ham reshaped their squad, taking in ten new faces. Among them, young French midfielder Mohamadou Kante joined the academy. One notable reshuffle from Lopetegui as he added Max Kliman, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to fortify the back. With Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, and Thilo Kehrer all going, the squad needed more cover in that department.
Their recent exit meant that teenage academy graduate Kaelan Casey was on the bench for the 3-1 loss to Manchester City. It put the club in a situation where they had to look to the free agent market and see what was available. Sources say former Sheffield United defender John Egan and ex-Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip were two of those considered to reinforce the defence.
However, during a pre-match press conference ahead of their match against Fulham, Lopetegui hinted that the club might be looking inwards and depending on academy players rather than relying on external targets. He explained, “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.”
The Hammers’ inclination to give an opportunity to youngsters from their academy suggests a shift in policy, which reflects on not only the financial situation of the club but also its belief in the kids who come through the youth setup. Meanwhile, with their visit to Craven Cottage at hand, there is hope regarding the fitness of striker Niclas Fullkrug, who might recover from an injury he picked up while on international duty with Germany.
This potentially could be a pivot to internal solutions, which proves to be a pivotal moment for West Ham as it highlights their commitment to the integration of young players into the first team during a busy Premier League season.
