West Ham linked with shock move for Johan Djourou
Right now, West Ham could probably do with an extra centre-back, but this isn’t who many had in mind as a potential signing.
According to German source BILD (h/t talkSPORT), West Ham are interested in bringing Johan Djourou back to the Premier League in the summer.
The defender came through the ranks with Swiss fourth-tier side Etoile Carouge before being signed by Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003.
Djourou spent 11 years on the books with the Arsenal mainly as a squad player but made 140 appearances for the Gunners before a permanent transfer to Hamburg in the summer of 2014 following an impressive loan spell.
Now 30, Djourou is the Hamburg captain and has enjoyed three great seasons in Germany but is being lined up for a return to English football with West Ham.
Capped 66 times by Switzerland, Djourou is out of contract at the end of the season and Slaven Bilic has eyed him up for a potential free transfer move back to England’s capital to act as cover for our oft-injured centre-backs.
Winston Reid has just been sidelined for five weeks with a groin tear while Angelo Ogbonna is still in rehab following January knee surgery, leaving the Hammers with just Jose Fonte and James Collins as the club’s fit centre-halves.