---
title: "Wantaway Lyon defender Rafael offered to West Ham"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2020/01/08/wantaway-lyon-defender-rafael-offered-to-west-ham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Turk"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2020-01-08T14:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-01-08T14:00:00Z"
---

# Wantaway Lyon defender Rafael offered to West Ham

Former Manchester United defender Rafael Da Silva looks to be on his way out of Lyon and West Ham United is a potential destination.

Rafael won four major trophies at Old Trafford, including three Premier Leagues, before departing for France in 2015.

According to club insider ExWHUEmployee, the 29-year-old right-back has been informed he’s free to leave this month.

Furthermore, speaking on the [West Ham Way podcast](https://anchor.fm/westhamway/episodes/The-West-Ham-Way-Podcast-163---Wed-8th-Jan-2019-ea266s) on Tuesday, he revealed that Rafael has been offered to the Hammers:

> Rafael Da Silva, he’s been told by Lyon that he can leave them. His agent has been pimping him out to a number of clubs, us included. He’s 29, but I’m not sure if the club are interested in him. But he has been proposed to us.

### READ WEST HAM’S VERDICT

The Brazilian defender was a brilliant player in his prime years, making 169 appearances over seven years for Man United ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael/profil/spieler/61892)).

West Ham needed to strengthen at full-back anyway, but with Ryan Fredericks ruled out for up to two months, per [ExWHUEmployee](https://twitter.com/ExWHUemployee/status/1214210814770593792?s=20), it’s now a matter of urgency to address the area.

Pablo Zabaleta, now 34, won’t have the legs to perform at such a high standard every week and that’ll show.

Rafael could be an ideal quick fix but, in all honesty, we believe the Hammers should focus on a long-term player for the position.