Better than Dawson: West Ham must sign 6 ft 4 beast who could "explode" under Moyes - opinion

Marseille defender and long-term West Ham United target Duje Caleta-Car is reportedly available for sale as the January transfer window approaches its final week.

What’s the story?

According to French outlet Le10 Sport, the Ligue 1 outfit are ready to cash in on the 25-year-old centre-back this month, with L’Equipe suggesting that the Croatian could be available for £14m.

It was reported by RMC last month that West Ham manager David Moyes is keen on acquiring the defender’s signature alongside a host of other Premier League clubs.

Valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt, the Croatian is contracted to Marseille until June 2023 having joined from Austrian outfit RB Salzburg in summer 2018.

The Scotsman is yet to make any additions to his side this month.

Moyes needs Caleta-Car

West Ham’s defensive issues of late caused by the absences of Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna have been well documented. The Hammers have conceded an average of 1.57 goals per game in the seven league matches where neither player has started, compared to the 1.31 in the 16 games where at least one of the duo has played.

Granted, the east London club now have Zouma back available, with the Frenchman playing the whole of the Irons’ late 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, whilst Ogbonna will be out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.

This means that it would certainly be sensible of Moyes to add defensive reinforcements whilst the window is still open, especially if his side are still serious about competing for a top-four finish come May.

Craig Dawson was the preference to partner Zouma over Issa Diop at Old Trafford, however, in the 16 Premier League starts the Englishman has made this season, West Ham have only kept three clean sheets; it wouldn’t be a wise long-term decision to play the 31-year-old for the remainder of the season.

Caleta-Car could prove to be a much more reliable Ogbonna replacement, especially with Dejan Lovren tipping the defender to “explode.”

Stood at 6 foot 4, the centre-back offers physicality at the back, something West Ham could do with, particularly in set-piece scenarios with the Hammers conceding six goals from set-pieces in the league so far this term.

The 25-year-old has had a mixed campaign for Marseille so far this season, making just 11 Ligue 1 appearances, having made 33 in the French top-flight last term.

According to SofaScore, the Croatian is currently averaging a highly impressive 92% passing accuracy of 68.2 passes per game. Caleta-Car has also kept five clean sheets in his 11 games and averages 1.9 interceptions per game alongside 1.2 tackles and 0.7 interceptions.

It may not be the statement signing that West Ham fans desire, however, the acquisition of Caleta-Car would be sensible. Available for what is a relatively low fee for a club with rather deep pockets such as the east London outfit he could help solidify the defence whilst Ogbonna is absent, at least for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, West Ham could upgrade on Michail Antonio with this striker…