West Ham plotting a move for Manchester United defender Di’Shon Bernard after impressing on loan at Hull City
According to the Mirror, West Ham United are plotting a move in the upcoming summer transfer window for Manchester United defender Di’Shon Bernard, who is currently on loan at Hull City in the Championship.
Bernard has been a regular for the Tigers in the second division of the English football pyramid, proving to be a menace for opposition strikers and looking comfortable in defence as he slowly seems to be proving his potential.
The 21-year-old has been hugely impressive this term, which has led to West Ham pondering whether to add him to their ranks ahead of the new season and bolster their rearguard. The Hammers currently rely on Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson, and Issa Diop to shield their net.
David Moyes’ side has been punching above their weight this season, pushing for a top-four place alongside United, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur, while also looking to win the UEFA Europa League by the summer as they progressed to the semi-finals of the competition last week.
Quick pathway to the Premier League
Bernard is highly regarded by the club and has a deal until 2026, but he may not get a chance to break into the first team anytime soon, given the competition in the squad. Given this, West Ham believe they can entice him with a chance to make his senior debut in the Premier League quicker than he would at Old Trafford and are plotting a summer move for the player.
The former Chelsea product, who joined United in 2017, has been scouted regularly by the London Stadium outfit and Moyes is said to be a big admirer of the defender. The Scotsman sees potential in Bernard and believes he could come in and provide competition to the other Hammers stars at centre-back.
At United, the centre-back pairing often seen this season has been club captain Harry Maguire and new signing Raphael Varane. Victor Lindelof, who was a regular last term, has been in and out of the team as per need this campaign.
Despite these stars being experienced internationals, their performances for the Red Devils have been varied. Maguire has been woeful but remains our captain as of now, while Varane has struggled with injuries. Lindelof often acts as a replacement for the Frenchman, but he too has not proven that he should start ahead of the former Real Madrid man.
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Despite their sluggish displays on the pitch, the manager has generally refused to pick other options like Phil Jones and Eric Bailly to see if they can prove to be the difference. Even the club’s youth products such as Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi have been sent out on loan when the senior team has had problems in defence this season.
Bernard, in this respect, falls well down the pecking order at centre-back for the first team. The offer from Moyes and West Ham is certainly enticing, although, with a long-term contract at United still to be fulfilled, it remains to be seen if the PL giants will let the talented youngster leave.
