West Ham United fans were shocked to find out that manager David Moyes, Issa Diop and Josh Cullen tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Carabao Cup clash with Hull City on Tuesday night.
While progression to the next round of the competition was ensured with a comfortable 5-1 victory, the news depletes the Hammers in a key position – central defence.
West Ham boss Moyes has pulled no punches in his assertion that the club need to add defensive reinforcements to his squad before the transfer window closes on October 5.
However, with Diop now unavailable for at least 10 days and not able to train with the Hammers squad, the need for the club’s hierarchy to sign new defenders becomes even more urgent.
The French defender’s unavailability means West Ham only have Fabian Balbuena and Angelo Ogbonna as senior first-team options at centre-half.
Moyes has recently admitted that star Hammers midfielder Declan Rice may have to move back into defence is required and this now seems like a possibility with fixtures piling up.
This would disrupt the West Ham team, take arguably the club’s best player out of his best position and leave another hole in the centre of the park to plug.
The message can’t be stated any louder or any clearer.
After Grady Diangana’s sale, the West Ham hierarchy stated the money would be reinvested in the signature of defenders – the time for this to happen is long overdue.