---
title: "West Ham United: Irons eyeing move for Duje Caleta-Car"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/duje-caleta-car-west-ham-transfer-target-ornstein/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2022-01-24T11:45:45Z"
modified: "2022-01-24T11:45:45Z"
---

# West Ham United: Irons eyeing move for Duje Caleta-Car

**West Ham are considering a late January move for Marseille centre-back Duje Caleta-Car, according to a report by [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3087017/2022/01/24/ornstein-aubameyang-wants-to-stay-in-europe-man-utd-step-up-manager-hunt-spurs-explore-lo-celso-swap-deal/)’s David Ornstein.**

### The Lowdown: Moyes’ defensive hunt

The Hammers’ centre-back ranks have been depleted by the season-ending injury sustained by [Angelo Ogbonna](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/angelo-ogbonna/verletzungen/spieler/48002), as the defender suffered a cruciate ligament rupture at the start of November.

[West Ham latest updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/)

David Moyes’ hunt for a replacement was exacerbated when [Kurt Zouma](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kurt-zouma/verletzungen/spieler/157509) suffered a hamstring injury in early December, which kept him out of action for nearly six weeks, seeing him miss the congested Christmas period.

This left just [two senior centre-backs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-ham-united/kadernachposition/verein/379) available for selection in Craig Dawson and Issa Diop. However, the Frenchman has [struggled in recent weeks](https://www.footballfancast.com/west-ham-united-news/west-ham-united-match-report-reaction-issa-diop-david-moyes-crystal-palace-premier-league), so it’s little wonder that the Irons are seeking reinforcements in that position.

### The Latest: West Ham considering move for Caleta-Car

As per Ornstein for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3087017/2022/01/24/ornstein-aubameyang-wants-to-stay-in-europe-man-utd-step-up-manager-hunt-spurs-explore-lo-celso-swap-deal/), West Ham are weighing up a move for [£14.4m-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/profil/spieler/238266) Croatian centre-back Caleta-Car.

The Irons are said to want a loan move whilst Marseille are likely to demand a sale, with the [6 foot 4](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/profil/spieler/238266) defender in contract with the Ligue 1 club until the end of next season.

The 25-year-old has previously been linked with a move to the Premier League. In last January’s transfer window, the Croatia international was set to join [Liverpool](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12220127/duje-caleta-car-marseille-defender-reveals-he-almost-joined-liverpool-in-january-transfer-window) after an agreement was made on deadline day, but the deal ultimately fell through due to defensive concerns at the Stade Velodrome.

### The Verdict: A good signing for the Irons

Caleta-Car joined Marseille in 2018 for a [£17.1m fee](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/transfers/spieler/238266) and has since impressed in Ligue 1, having also amassed [20 international caps](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/nationalmannschaft/spieler/238266/verein_id/3556) for Croatia. However, the defender has [struggled for game-time](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/leistungsdaten/spieler/238266) this season, having made only 11 appearances in Ligue 1 and three starts in Marseille’s Europa League campaign.

He could certainly help West Ham in terms of playing out of the back, averaging a [92.1%](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/251134/Show/Duje-Caleta-Car) passing success rate in Ligue 1 this term. No Irons defender can match that return, with [only Manuel Lanzini (92.3%)](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) bettering it among Moyes’ senior squad.

Caleta-Car has been subjected to criticism in recent months, with Marseille legend [Manuel Amoros](https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/amoros-blames-liverpool-for-sluggish-marseille-defender-caleta-car-4366507) last year calling him “sluggish”, having been convinced that the Croatian’s failed move to Liverpool was affecting his performances on the pitch.

However, if Moyes finds a way to push him beyond this mentality and get him playing to his best once again, then this could be a very shrewd signing for the Hammers if they can pull it off in the closing days of the transfer window.

***In other news: [Reliable journalist makes transfer claim over this potential Irons target](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-rumours/west-ham-united-dominic-calvert-lewin-the-sun-alan-nixon-update-latest-whufc-transfer-news/)***