David Moyes could land his ideal partner for Craig Dawson with a summer swoop for West Ham United to sign UC Sampdoria centre-back Omar Colley.

What’s the word?

According to Club Doria 46, the Irons are in a four-way Premier League tug-of-war to obtain the services of Gambia international Colley.

The Blucerchiati are expected to listen to offers for the 25-cap enforcer at the end of the season, as Colley’s performances under Claudio Ranieri have added millions to his value.

Colley endured a difficult 2019/20 campaign and carried those struggles into the current term, but has proven to be a leader at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris since earning a reprieve in November.

Colley has only failed to feature three times in Sampdoria’s last 20 Serie A fixtures – once through injury and once through suspension – and committed his future to the Genoa outfit in January with a contract extension to June 2025.

But the new terms will not prevent the 28-year-old’s from leaving the Blucerchiati this summer, as Ranieri’s side will sell the sought-after centre-back for between €10-15m (£8.5-£12.5m).

That will come as good news for West Ham, who – along with Fulham, Leeds and Newcastle United – are monitoring Colley’s situation, with the view to a summer swoop.

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Fulham failed to sign Colley last summer when Sampdoria valued the centre-back at around €10-12m (£8.5-£10m), and he has previously been linked with a potential move to Leeds and Sheffield United.

Should West Ham sign Colley?

West Ham are expected to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer, with Moyes said to be keen on adding another experienced option to his ranks, and Colley may offer an ideal target.

The Gambia star can add depth, talent and experience without the Irons having to break the bank to land a player Sampdoria owner Massimo Ferrero likened to SSC Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly amid interest from Leicester City last September.

“Why should I just give Colley away?” Ferrero told Secolo XIX, via quotes by Football-Italia. “Have you seen how much [Napoli President Aurelio] De Laurentiis is negotiating for the possible sale of Kalidou Koulibaly? Let’s not joke around here.”

Napoli demanded £89m to sell Koulibaly to Manchester United last summer, while interest from Celtic, West Ham and Leicester in Colley was only said to have delivered offers in the region of €4-6m (£3.5-£5m).

West Ham would have to pay more than that this time around, but doing so may see Moyes acquire a potential upgrade on Angelo Ogbonna – who he lauded earlier this season as being “magnificent” but will turn 33 in May.

Colley is certainly a more aggressive player than Ogbonna in their approach to defending, with the Sampdoria enforcer averaging 8.38 pressures per 90 minute in the Serie A this season to the Italian’s 7.8 in the Premier League for West Ham, per FBref.

Colley is also more successful when tackling dribblers than Ogbonna, as he averages 0.2 successful efforts from 0.51 attempts while the Hammers titan is dribbled past with each of his average 0.48 attempts per 90.

Ogbonna further offers one fewer interceptions than Colley per 90, and blocks fewer shots with 0.53 registered to the Gambian’s 0.91.

If Moyes is on the lookout for an experienced option to add depth, Colley would certainly appear a wise way to go as he may turn out to be West Ham’s dream partner for Dawson.

AND in other news, West Ham have been tipped to sign a 12-goal striker who is “Moyes’ type”…