West Ham United are set to launch a late bid for a Premier League centre-back, according to emerging reports tonight...

What's the word?

According to Football.London, the Irons are poised to make a loan move for Chelsea centre-back Fikayo Tomori as the Blues look set to keep hold of Antonio Rudiger despite interest from across Europe.

It means Frank Lampard has five senior central defenders and would like to move one of them on before the transfer deadline late this evening.

David Moyes has been keen to add a player in the role all summer and now he finally could be in luck.

Impressive coup

The Hammers are in dire need of an extra centre-back, even more so after a recent switch to a three-at-the-back formation which saw full-back Aaron Cresswell utilised in the middle.

Tomori going out on loan not only ends the nightmare that Moyes has been facing all summer but could also help progress his career forward before he returns to Stamford Bridge and takes over from the recently-signed Thiago Silva.

The England international played 15 times in the top-flight last season, averaging 2.8 clearances, 2.3 aerials won, 1.9 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, via WhoScored.

Lampard believes the 6 foot 1 colossus is a "great talent," so he certainly won't want to let him leave on a permanent basis.

Whilst speaking exclusively to FootballFanCast, Shaun Goater claimed that the £14.4m-rated defender could one day become a "£100m player" if he continues his meteoric rise in English football.

It may be awfully late in the window and it may be a last resort but a move for Tomori could turn out to be very smart business for the resurgent Irons.

AND in other news, Three new signings, no more Masuaku: How West Ham may look after Deadline Day...