WATFORD, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Craig Dawson of Watford controls the ball while in the air during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Southampton FC at Vicarage Road on June 28, 2020 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
According to claims from Football website Claret & Hugh (h/t Hertfordshire Live), West Ham could have a chance of snapping up loanee Craig Dawson on a permanent deal for a knockdown price in the January window.
The 30-year-old joined the Hammers on loan from Watford back in October following the latter’s relegation to the Championship at the end of last season. West Ham have the option to turn the defender’s loan agreement into a permanent transfer. It has been reported that David Moyes’ side could exercise that clause by paying as little as £2-3million this month.
West Ham’s desperation to bring in a new centre-back had been well-documented during the summer window after the Hammers shipped 62 goals in the PL last term. Burnley’s James Tarkowski was understood to be the top target for the Hammers but they were eventually left frustrated in their pursuit of the England international.
In the end, a loan deal for Dawson was all that West Ham could manage before the domestic deadline. The 30-year-old was only seen as a temporary defensive fix when he initially arrived at the London Stadium.
However, the former West Brom star has silenced his critics in an emphatic manner. After struggling to break into Moyes’ plans earlier in the campaign, Dawson has grabbed his opportunities with both hands in recent weeks. The centre-back made his first start in the PL for the Hammers in the goalless draw against Southampton on December 29 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.
The veteran has started each of the club’s last five games in all competitions, helping his side to clean sheets on four occasions. In fact, West Ham have conceded just once in the 450 minutes Dawson has played, which pretty much sums up his telling impact.
Dawson initially failed to make several matchday squads but has now established himself as one of the first names on Moyes’ teamsheet. The former England U-21 international has usurped both Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop in the pecking order to emerge as the ideal partner for Angelo Ogbonna at the heart of West Ham’s defence.
Dawson has certainly proven his worth at West Ham in recent weeks after a slow start to the campaign. To that end, it’s an absolute no-brainer that he would represent a massive bargain if the Hammers manage to strike a permanent deal for anything close to the reported price tag of £2-3million.
The 30-year-old might not be the most elegant defender around in the Premier League and has his fair share of limitations. But it’s hard to overlook that Dawson has more than 200 appearances in the Premier League, boasting enough know-how and experience at this level to do a job for Moyes’ side. Having said that, the Hammers would be naive to pass up the opportunity to snap him up for peanuts.
West Ham signing Craig Dawson permanently for a knockdown price would help them save enough funds to invest in other areas of their squad. The Hammers are in desperate need of a new striker following the departure of Sebastian Haller. Striking a permanent deal for Dawson would, therefore, allow them to focus on bringing in new faces in other departments.
The 30-year-old might not be the most exciting signing for the Hammers but his experience and low price tag should still make him a wonderful asset to the club moving forward. Dawson still has a lot to offer at the highest level and West Ham signing him permanently this month would be a real coup.