According to Sky Sports, West Brom defender Craig Dawson has handed in a transfer request at the Championship club. The centre back was part of the Baggies side that lost their Premier League status last season but was one of their better performers, to the point that he has since attracted interest from Burnley and West Ham.

And with the 28-year-old clearly hoping for a departure from the Hawthorns this summer, the door is open for West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini to complete his defensive overhaul by capturing the £7.2 million-rated star (as per Transfermarkt).

The Breakdown

Ultimately, new Hammers chief Pellegrini has already been busy rebuilding the club’s backline ahead of the 2018/19 Premier League season, what with the East London outfit shipping 68 goals in their 38 games last term, the joint-most of any side in the top-flight.

As such, the ex-Manchester City manager has brought in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, right back Ryan Fredericks, and centre back Issa Diop in a bid to solidify the defensive unit into one capable of challenging in the top half of the Premier League – Dawson’s arrival would complete that job.

The 28-year-old may well have been part of a Baggies side that finished bottom in the top tier last season, but he was one of a select few West Brom players who can hold their high after a disastrous campaign at the Hawthorns.

The defender, equally adept at right back as he is at centre back, played 28 times for the Midlands club last term and bagged two goals along the way, with his consistently high-level performances either down the right or in the middle earning rave reviews from many in the Tavern.

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And he must have done something right for both Burnley and indeed West Ham to express an interest in his services, while three seasons as a Baggies regular in the top-flight prior to last term further underlines his consistency in the Premier League.

As such, with Dawson wanting out of the second tier outfit this summer, Pellegrini should seek to complete his defensive overhaul by capturing the 28-year-old this summer.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!