‘Could see him fitting in’ – West Ham urged to sign 23-year-old

West Ham United have been urged to sign Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash by former player-turned-pundit Noel Whelan. 

The Hammers are in the market for a new full-back after the summer departure of Pablo Zabaleta and have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old Reds man. 

West Ham will have been impressed by Cash’s barnstorming showings for Forest last season, with the wideman starring in the Championship. 

While the Hammers will surely have Premier League competition should they make their move for the full-back, Whelan has stated that he could see the reformed winger making a big impact with David Moyes’ men. 

“What a really good signing, he’d be,” he told Football Insider.

“A lot of teams admire Matty Cash and the way the he plays the game. He is tenacious, box-to-box and is another one that has been converted from a winger into a full-back and he plays it extremely well.

“He has got a great engine on him and a good footballing brains.

“Many clubs are looking at him but I could see him fitting in at West Ham. You have got Ryan Fredericks as well, a very good young player so it would be welcome competition.”

West Ham have been relatively quiet in the transfer market thusfar over the summer, but Tomas Soucek’s loan move from Slavia Prague has been made permanent in a positive development. 

The Hammers need defensive reinforcements, with the side conceding too many goals in 2019-20 and facing a relegation battle as a result. 

West Ham’s full-back options have been inconsistent, with Ryan Fredericks not building momentum – but youngster Ben Johnson was given a chance at right-back towards the end of the campaign and impressed. 

Cash would be an exciting addition to the Hammers squad – but it remains to be seen whether the London Stadium side have the financial means and motivation to land him.