Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that West Ham United are now willing to give Craig Dawson the time he needs to make a final decision on his future.
The centre-back wished to leave the east London club in the summer due to personal reasons after it emerged that he was commuting from up north on a daily basis. However, with the Hammers unable to secure a replacement, his proposed move to Wolves in the Midlands collapsed.
Dawson had been struggling with a persistent thigh injury throughout the summer but made his first start of the campaign in the 3-2 win against Silkeborg this month and was in the matchday squad in the Premier League for the first time this season for the subsequent defeat at Everton.
On The West Ham Way Patreon page, ExWHUemployee noted that officials at the London Stadium are hoping that the £52k-per-week defender will sign a new one-year contract extension, with his current deal expiring at the end of the campaign.
Dawson to be given time to decide his future
However, Jones has now claimed that the Irons are prepared to give the 32-year-old time to choose what he wants to do next.
He told GIVEMESPORT: “To be honest, he deserves the respect to take time over this decision and what he wants to do next. From everything I’ve heard, West Ham are very open-minded about that.”
He could leave with head held high
Lauded as ‘incredible’ by former West Ham captain Mark Noble following their Europa League win over Lyon in April, Dawson became a cult hero during the club’s memorable European run in 2021/22. Indeed, pictures emerged of a banner reading “Ballon d’Orson” in the build-up to that game, with the former England under-21 international going on to score in the famous 3-0 win in France.
He led from the back that night with six blocks and four clearances, posting a man-of-the-match 8.5 rating (via SofaScore), a performance which was indicative of his season as a whole.
Across the campaign, he ranked first for blocks (1.5) and second for clearances (4.1) made per 90 among West Ham players in the Premier League according to WhoScored.
However, following the summer arrivals of Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd, the former West Brom defender could well be destined for a move back up the country. If he goes, he will leave the London Stadium with his held head high, considering his service to the club.
