West Ham keeping tabs on World Cup man as potential long-term replacement for first-team player

West Ham are reportedly keeping tabs on Amiens defender Formose Mendy. The Hammers are being linked with a new name with the January transfer window now open.

According to a report by The Athletic, David Moyes’ side are ‘monitoring’ the centre-back’s situation in France and the two parties have started ‘exploratory conversations’. However, the London club will have to see off competition from Lens if they are to land his signature and the Ligue 1 outfit are believed to have had a bid in the region of £7million rejected so far.

West Ham could see Mendy, who was at the World Cup last month with Senegal, as an ideal long-term replacement for Craig Dawson with his contract up at the end of the season. The 22-year-old has already played 47 times for his current club and has racked up a decent amount of experience for a young player.

He started out at AF Darou Salam before moving over to Europe for spells in the academies at Porto and Club Brugge. The Dakar-born man was then snapped up by Amiens in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since as he is now an established member of their first-team.

The Ligue 2 club will face a battle to keep hold of him amid interest from West Ham and Lens. It is yet to be known whether the Hammers will make their move this winter or wait until the summer. Moyes’ men are currently only outside the relegation zone in the Premier League on goal difference.