---
title: "Aston Villa: Villans plotting move to sign Craig Dawson"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-craig-dawson-west-ham-united-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-08-29T16:05:56Z"
modified: "2022-08-29T16:05:56Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Villans plotting move to sign Craig Dawson

**[Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) are plotting a move to sign West Ham United defender Craig Dawson this week, according to reports.**

### The Lowdown: Limited opportunities

The 32-year-old has now entered the [final year](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-ham-united/berateruebersicht/verein/379) of his contract at the London Stadium, but he has recently been out with an [injury](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/david-moyes-west-ham-injury-24862885) which has hampered his playing time.

David Moyes [signed](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12637204/nayef-aguerd-west-ham-complete-30m-signing-of-moroccan-defender-from-rennes) Nayef Aguerd at centre-back earlier in the summer, and despite the Moroccan also facing a spell on the [sidelines](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nayef-aguerd/verletzungen/spieler/361914), his arrival in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) is bound to limit the veteran’s opportunities upon his return to fitness.

### The Latest: Villa eyeing Dawson

[The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19637186/aston-villa-transfer-west-ham-dawson/) claim that Villa owners NSWE and sporting director Johan Lange are ‘swooping’ for Dawson in a bid to ‘solve their defensive worries’, with Steven Gerrard currently ‘trying to tie up a deal’.

It’s stated that the Irons are ‘reluctant to sell’ their experienced colossus, but it’s believed that he is ‘willing to quit’ in order to find more game-time, with the Midlands outfit ready to offer their target a ‘two-year’ contract.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389386″\]

### The Verdict: Hause replacement

Kortney Hause has recently joined Watford on a [season-long](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62637813) loan, leaving Villa short at the back with Diego Carlos also [ruled out](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/august/15/villa-provide-injury-update-on-carlos/) of action, so Dawson would be a brilliant reinforcement for Gerrard.

The 6 foot 1 colossus, who was [hailed](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-face-impossible-craig-dawson-problem-as-new-claim-emerges-pundit/?amp) as ‘irreplaceable’ by Leeds United ambassador [Noel Whelan](https://twitter.com/NoelDavidWhelan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor), averaged 4.1 clearances and 1.5 blocks per top-flight game last season ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/73063/History/Craig-Dawson)), and he has plenty of experience having made [238](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/craig-dawson/leistungsdaten/spieler/121477) appearances at this level.

\[freshpress-poll id=”407799″\]

Only Tyrone Mings ([4.2](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Archive/England-Aston-Villa)) bettered that clearances average in 2021/22, while [no Villa defender](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Archive/England-Aston-Villa) made more than one block per match, so Dawson could certainly add steel to Gerrard’s backline.

The 32-year-old is seeking more minutes and Villa are after defensive cover, so this definitely sounds like a move which would suit both parties.