West Ham United are believed to be contemplating a move for Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
What's the word?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the reliable source revealed that the 29-year-old is a player that the Hammers are considering this summer, albeit with it unclear as to whether that potential interest will lead to a concrete approach.
Jones stated: "Tyrone Mings is one that hasn’t really been mentioned but is an obvious fit for what they’re looking for.
“They’re not looking for a first-choice defender, they’re looking for someone that can fight to be part of that team. You could say, ‘Tyrone Mings is struggling with that battle himself for Aston Villa. Why would he get it at West Ham?’
“But it might just be that he needs a new club. He is one that West Ham are aware of and of thinking about, but we’ll have to see whether it actually turns into anything active.”
The east Londoners are currently suffering due to the loss of summer signing Nayef Aguerd to a long-term injury, while both Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson are also yet to feature this season due to their own fitness woes.
Transfer disaster
That injury crisis - as well as the exit of Issa Diop to Fulham - has left manager David Moyes particularly depleted at the heart of the defence, resulting in young full-back Ben Johnson having to slot into a makeshift centre-back role so far this season.
Two defeats from two has only heightened the need for further recruits, with the former Everton boss insisting that his side have made "lots of offers" to try and strengthen their ranks before the September deadline.
Although the 59-year-old would no doubt suggest otherwise, that fact could well hint at a sense of desperation with deadline day looming, with that feeling only heightened by this potential interest in Mings.
The England international could well prove to be something of a transfer disaster, having shown little of late to warrant a move away from Villa Park, even as a potential backup option.
The former Bournemouth man is enduring a tricky period with the Midlands outfit after having been stripped of the captaincy by manager Steven Gerrard, with the Liverpool legend admitting he was hoping such a move would allow the 17-cap brute to recapture his form.
The 6 foot 5 giant had endured a particularly poor 2021/22 season after taking on the armband from Jack Grealish, notably coming under fire from pundit Danny Mills who stated that the £67k-per-week man has a "mistake in his game somewhere".
The £27m-rated dud was part of a Villa side that shipped 54 goals last season - the tenth-worst record in the division - with it having been no real surprise to see him relinquished of the captaincy by Gerrard.
Equally, having cost £25m back in 2019, the Bath-born defender is unlikely to come cheap for Moyes and co, with it something of a headscratcher to turn towards a player who is not exactly performing at his current club.
Mercifully, it would appear unlikely that Villa would sanction a sale due to the recent injury to summer acquisition Diego Carlos, as that would leave themselves short of options, with that fact set to prove a blessing in disguise if it prevents West Ham from making a move.