---
title: "West Ham: Hammers could go big for Ogbonna replacement, says pundit"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-hammers-could-go-big-for-ogbonna-replacement-says-pundit/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2021-12-06T21:35:27Z"
modified: "2021-12-06T21:35:27Z"
---

# West Ham: Hammers could go big for Ogbonna replacement, says pundit

**Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny ([via Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-tipped-to-spend-serious-money-on-ogbonna-replacement-in-january-pundit/)) has tipped West Ham to spend ‘serious money’ in the January transfer window following the major injury to Angelo Ogbonna.**

### The Lowdown: Ogbonna out for the season

The 33-year-old suffered a [cruciate ligament rupture](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/angelo-ogbonna/verletzungen/spieler/48002) in the Hammers’ 3-2 win over Liverpool on the 7th of November. It is expected that the defender will be out of action for [nine months](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-tipped-to-spend-serious-money-on-ogbonna-replacement-in-january-pundit/) – meaning his season is effectively over.

[West Ham developments](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-developments-2/)

The Italian was instrumental in West Ham’s success this season, having played the full 90 minutes in the [first ten league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/angelo-ogbonna/leistungsdaten/spieler/48002/saison/2021/plus/1#gesamt). He was [second](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) only to Kurt Zouma in offsides won per game, showing how perfectly the duo fit together in David Moyes’ defensive structure.

### The Latest: A replacement is needed

As a result of Ogbonna’s campaign ending injury, Kenny has claimed ([via Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-tipped-to-spend-serious-money-on-ogbonna-replacement-in-january-pundit/)) that the Hammers will speed up their search to replace the defender permanently – instead of bringing in a loan player until the end of the season. He said:

“Ogbonna is such a vital player for them and I do think his experience will be missed.

“I think it’s just obvious to go out and replace a player who is going to be out for so long.

“He’s not the youngest player either, so maybe West Ham could accelerate the process of getting a replacement in instead of getting a loan.

“That would allow them to spend a bit of money. They won’t go cheap if they want to buy a long-term replacement.

“We will have to see what happens but if West Ham want to stay at that end of the table they need to spend serious money.”

### The Verdict: A costly but well-timed replacement

Despite the statement that West Ham need to bring in a replacement for Ogbonna, Kenny also said that the Hammers [“still have quality players”](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-tipped-to-spend-serious-money-on-ogbonna-replacement-in-january-pundit/). Indeedn, fellow centre-backs Zouma and Craig Dawson lead the team in clearances, with [5.4 and 3.4 per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) respectively.

However, Ogbonna supersedes both of them when it comes to pass success percentage, with an impressive [85.2%](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) accuracy.

With the 33-year-old’s [contract expiring](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/angelo-ogbonna/profil/spieler/48002) in the summer, this may be the perfect time for the Hammers to ramp up their interest in a long-term replacement, and one who is effective playing the ball out from the back – as the Hammers move up in the world, more and more teams lower down the table will allow them to have the ball as much as possible.

Such a signing will be costly, but it feels like GSB and Moyes may have no other option than to take Kenny’s advice and splash “serious money”.