Journalist Ryan Taylor has tipped Wolves to view Craig Dawson as 'the top target' in the January transfer market after past interest in the defender.

What's the word?

Last summer, the West Ham United centre-back very nearly left his current club in favour of a move to a team in the Molineux outfit with Aston Villa also in the race for his signature.

No deal materialised but Wolves have supposedly seen an offer for the player rejected in the current winter window. Amid all that, Atletico Madrid for Felipe has been rumoured to be an alternative target with Reuters claiming talks have been ongoing.

However, while talking on his own YouTube channel, Taylor has now stated that he expects Dawson to be the priority this January, while adding that the player should be keen on a move away from London.

The journalist explained: "There was some discussions with Atletico Madrid for Felipe but I think Craig Dawson would be the top target.

"He wants to move back to the Midlands. He actually doesn't live in London and he's making a long commute to West Ham every day. Tried to leave the club in the summer but the right option didn't materialise.

"So I think that's one that can be revisited and David Moyes will probably be keen to let him move on, so he can bring in another player."

Transfer options

Brazilain defender Felipe might seem like a more glamour signing – after all, he has won the Club World Cup and La Liga – but that may well mean he has higher wage demands and it might take more to convince him of a move to England.

Dawson, on the other hand, seems very open to the move for the reasons stated above. What's more, with his contract set to expire this summer, he should come fairly cheap. And with plenty of Premier League experience, 246 appearances to be precise, he could come in and make an immediate impact with little adaption likely needed.

The main issue, however, could be the fact that the recent bid seemed to annoy David Moyes. Indeed, just before West Ham played Wolves, an offer came in for the defender and when asked if that was a destabilising thing to deal with, the manager said: “It is, yeah, I agree with you."