Transfer insider Dean Jones has admitted that he is shocked West Ham never made a formal approach to sign John Egan in the summer transfer window.
The journalist was speaking to GIVEMESPORT amid reports linking the Hammers with a move for the Sheffield United defender in January.
The Sun suggests that it would take £12m to sign the 26-cap Republic of Ireland international.
Speculation has arose in line with doubts surrounding Craig Dawson’s future at the club.
A personal commute from up north for the defender saw him become the subject of interest from Wolves but an exit on deadline day collapsed.
However, the arrival of Egan could allow for David Moyes to sanction Dawson’s exit and Jones has confessed that he was surprised not to see the east London club make their move during the off-season.
He told GMS: “My main surprise is that he’s not a guy they really considered during the whole of the summer.
“So obviously, we know they’re on the lookout for future defenders, and there was probably one more signing potentially on the cards they could have done in that area.”
Although Dawson has been reintroduced to the side in recent weeks, it would appear that his long-term future is in doubt.
With his contract up at the end of the season, Dawson will need replacing sooner rather than later and Egan could be an astute signing.
He made 67 Premier League appearances as the Blades competed in the top flight between 2019 and 2021 and ranked in the top 2% of centre-backs in the Premier League for passes intercepted per 90 and in the top 10% for passes blocked (Fbref) during the 2020/21 campaign.
He would likely play deputy to both Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd as well as Thilo Kehrer but, while Sheffield United challenge for promotion, the guarantee of top-flight football could persuade him to join mid-season if the Hammers decide to act on their interest in January.
