---
title: "West Ham United: Irons have ‘no plans’ to sign a new defender"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-news-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dominic Lund"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2023-01-29T17:40:40Z"
modified: "2023-01-29T17:40:40Z"
---

# West Ham United: Irons have ‘no plans’ to sign a new defender

**[West Ham United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/) have ‘no plans’ to sign a new defender in the remainder of the January transfer window, according to [Sky Sports reporter](https://twitter.com/skysports_sheth) Dharmesh Sheth.**

### The Lowdown: West Ham facing issues in defence

He recently told [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88108932-west-ham-david-moyes-dharmesh-sheth-premier-league-transfer-news-london-stadium) that Kurt Zouma is set to miss ‘a few games’ with an injury, having already been absent for [five matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kurt-zouma/verletzungen/spieler/157509) this season with a knee problem, while Craig Dawson was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers for [£3.3m](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/22/wolves-complete-33m-deal-to-sign-craig-dawson-from-west-ham).

Consequently, [David Moyes](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/david-moyes/) is left with limited options in defence, one of whom is Thilo Kehrer. The German has not quite hit the ground running since arriving for [£10.1m](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/12675151/west-ham-sign-defender-thilo-kehrer-from-paris-saint-germain-for-10-1m-plus-add-ons) last summer, with journalist Paul Brown last month [claiming](https://www.givemesport.com/88099086-west-ham-thilo-kehrer-david-moyes-premier-league-london-stadium) that the 26-year-old looks ‘a yard off the pace’.

### The Latest: No signings planned

Speaking to [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88109292-west-ham-transfer-news-dharmesh-sheth-premier-league-london-stadium), Sheth detailed that West Ham will not enter the market for a new defender unless they receive another injury setback before the transfer deadline.

The reporter said: *“I think West Ham are comfortable just now with the options that they have in central defence.*

*“If any of the injuries that they do get within the next six days or so are worse than first feared, then I think they’ll go into the market, but no plans do, as far as I’m told at the moment.”*

[![West Ham latest developments!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-david-moyes-premier-league-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-developments-6/)

### The Verdict: Right decision?

While Kehrer may have struggled at times in a West Ham shirt, Angelo Ogbonna has stepped up the plate after being given increased game-time in recent weeks, helping the Irons to keep a clean sheet in the recent 2-0 victory against Everton by making [15](https://www.sofascore.com/everton-west-ham-united/MY) clearances, the most of any player on the pitch.

Also, Nayef Aguerd has found his stride after finally shaking off the injuries which ruled him out for [21](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nayef-aguerd/verletzungen/spieler/361914) matches earlier in the campaign, with Moyes describing him as ‘[fantastic](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/west-ham-moyes-everton-lampard-26040022)‘ in the wake of his display against the Toffees.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419201″\]

As such, there is no real need for West Ham to add to their defence, with the options currently available to Moyes proving themselves to be more than capable, while Zouma is also set to come back into the frame soon.