Why West Ham should sign this underrated player in January

The January transfer window isn’t too far away. The scouts at West Ham will be working overtime - but if they are in the hunt for a left-back, we would urge them to look no further than Ipswich Town’s Leif Davis.

Davis has been a cornerstone of a highly impressive Ipswich outfit over the past couple of years - as things stand, the Tractor Boys are second in the Championship, having been promoted the year prior.

A good, young left-back would bring West Ham dividends. They have two left-backs in their squad currently - Aaron Cresswell and Emerson - but they are both aging and are susceptible to injuries. Davis, at 23, still has his best years well ahead of him.

What would Leif Davis bring to the West Ham squad?

Last season, Davis went on an absolute tear in Ipswich’s League One promotion campaign. Not only did he notch up five goals for the Tractor Boys, he also registered a staggering 14 assists.

Most of these assists come as a result of his excellent ability to put quality crosses into the box. He has lofted 84 balls into the area as things stand, with only Huddersfield Town’s Sorba Thomas completing more [via FBref]. Moreover, he is also a brilliant corner and free kick taker.

He has shown no signs of slowing down since Ipswich reached the Championship, either. Thus far, he has racked up five assists in England’s second tier over the course of ten games. As things stand, he has the most assists in the division - ahead of players such as Daniel James, Adam Armstrong and Jamie Vardy [via FBref].

While he perhaps has some work to do on the defensive aspects of his game, Davis is the archetypal modern full-back. Technically gifted and physically capable, we feel he would be a great addition to the Hammers squad - but how much will he cost?

How much would Leif Davis cost West Ham?

According to Transfermarkt, Davis has a market value of just over £1 million. If West Ham could get their hands on him for this price, he would be a real bargain - but Ipswich are likely to demand far more than this, given his importance.

Until Ipswich put a price on his head, it is unclear how much Davis will cost any club wishing to bring him on board. With his contract not set to expire until 2026, it could be a hefty fee - but it will likely be within the Irons’ budget.