West Ham United are keen on a host of centre-backs, including an influential Middlesbrough star
West Ham United are keen to refresh their defensive options following their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.
The Hammers conceded a whopping 65 goals in the top flight last season, just three fewer than Wolverhampton Wandererswho finished rock-bottom.
Following their relegation from the Premier LeagueNuno Espirito Santo’s men will have to sell some of their former assets, while defender Axel Disasi’s loan spell from Chelsea has already come to an end.
West Ham want to return to the top flight at the first time of asking, and will have to defend significantly better than they did last season to achieve that goal, although they will be up against lower-quality teams than last term’s Premier League opponents.
Middlesbrough star is West Ham United’s top centre-back target, Brighton ace also eyed
Hammers midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been eyed by Premier League giants Manchester United and Champions League winners PSG, among other high-profile clubs.
According to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell on X, West Ham want £80m for Fernandesand recouping such a fee would help their finances ahead of the upcoming Championship campaign.
Meanwhile, Espirito Santo also has his eyes set on a defensive reshuffle, amid hopes at the London Stadium for an immediate Premier League return.
As reported by the West Ham Waythe East London outfit’s top target and most realistic centre-back option is Middlesbrough’s Dale Frywith a deal now advancing.
He helped Boro reach the play-offs, featuring in 29 Championship matches last term.
The report also revealed that the Hammers are interested in Adam Webster, Danilo Doekhi, and Ben Wilmot as Espirito Santo looks to refresh his backline options.
Webster is available on a free transfer this summer, as his contract with Brighton expires at the end of the month, and he has plenty of Premier League and Championship experience to his name, having formerly represented Bristol City and Ipswich Town before joining the Seagulls in 2019.
However, the 31-year-old didn’t make any appearances for Fabian Hurzeler’s men last campaign, courtesy of a serious knee injury he suffered in the summer of 2025.
Doekhi is also a free agent ahead of next season, but West Ham’s interest in his services is ambitious, as he featured in all 34 of Union Berlin‘s Bundesliga matches last term, and should be keen on remaining in a top-flight division.
In contrast, Wilmot is under contract with Stoke City until 2027, after the Potters activated a 12-month extension, so Espirito Santo’s men would have to pay a transfer fee to land his services ahead of next term.
Meanwhile, as per the West Ham Way’s aforementioned report, the Hammers’ current defender, Jean-Clair Todibo, is set to have already played his last game at the London Stadium, whereas they want to keep Konstantinos Mavropanos, but his future is uncertain.
Dael Fry is West Ham’s best option in centre-back hunt
Webster has plenty of Premier League experience, which is an asset that fellow West Ham transfer targets Wilmot, Doekhi, and Fry don’t have, albeit the Stoke man made two top-flight appearances for Watford in the 2018/19 season.
However, the 31-year-old’s recent injury struggles make the Middlesbrough ace the East Londoners’ best option.
Fry has largely been a class act for Boro ever since returning from his 2016/17 loan spell with Rotherham United, and is set to become a free agent at the end of the month.
In contrast, the Hammers would have to pay a fee to sign Wilmot, and Doekhi may not entertain a move to the Championship, having regularly featured in the Bundesliga.
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