{"id":18518,"date":"2026-07-18T13:05:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T13:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=18518"},"modified":"2026-07-18T13:05:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T13:05:07","slug":"why-ben-nelson-is-an-outstanding-west-ham-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=18518","title":{"rendered":"Why Ben Nelson is an ‘outstanding’ West Ham target"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Admittedly, West Ham United going from France international Axel Disasi to a defender relegated from the Championship to League One hardly screams \u2018ambition\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But considering how many have labelled Ben Nelson a Premier League centre-half in-waiting, the Hammers may be onto something in pursuit of the Leicester City youngster.<\/p>\n

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West Ham United haven\u2019t given up on their dream target at this stage. Stamford Bridge reporter Si Phillips says there is a \u00a325 million agreement in place with Chelsea to bring Axel Disasi back to East London. <\/p>\n

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How would you feel if Kretinsky brought Disasi BACK to West Ham? \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7<\/h3>\n

A Chelsea source thinks the return is possible\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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But should that fail to materialise \u2013 one suspects Disasi will have other offers from top-flight and even Europe-bound clubs \u2013 Ben Nelson may be one they turn to as a more affordable, attainable alternative.<\/p>\n

Leicester City\u2019s Ben Nelson is on West Ham United\u2019s radar<\/h2>\n

According to club insider ExWhuEmployee, via West Ham Way, Nelson has admirers at the London Stadium, as well as at Sunderland and Manchester United. <\/p>\n

Italian outfit Torino have seen an offer rejected as Leicester hold out for between \u00a310 and \u00a312 million.<\/p>\n

Nelson, of course, will come under scrutiny from Hammers fans for his role in Leicester\u2019s relegation to England\u2019s third tier. But if you are willing to overlook a poor, if injury-hit 2025\/26 campaign \u2013 Nelson only started 22 times in 46 Championship matches, so there is a limit to the blame he should receive \u2013 the Northampton-born youngster would arrive with plenty of pedigree and as-yet untapped potential.<\/p>\n

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\u201c(Nelson is an) ideal defender. He\u2019s quick. He can play right or left \u2014 it\u2019s perfect.\u201d <\/p>\n

Those are the words of Enzo Maresca; Man City\u2019s Pep Guardiola replacement having handed Nelson his senior debut during Leicester\u2019s Championship-winning campaign in 2023\/24.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing that he needs to improve and understand more is that he is a bit shy on the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flash forward to 2026 and, if you ask fans of Leicester and former employers Oxford to highlight Nelson\u2019s best attributes, many will point to his line-breaking, progressive passes from the back. The former England Under-20 international has his weaknesses \u2013 particularly a tendency to switch off in key moments \u2013 but no one could really accuse him of \u2018shyness\u2019 in possession these days.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely outstanding,\u201d was the assessment of Gary Rowett during Nelson\u2019s loan spell at Oxford in 2024\/25, via the Oxford Mail. \u201cHe showed the potential which he\u2019s got, which is to be a Premier League centre half.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because Nelson is a confident, two-footed passer as well as a giant of a man at 6ft 5ins, comparisons with former Leicester powerhouse Harry Maguire were inevitable. <\/p>\n

For Danny Schofield, who worked with Nelson during a stint at Doncaster Rovers, he could not help feel that there are shades of Levi Colwill and one Charlie Cresswell. <\/p>\n

Like Maguire, who nearly joined from Man United a couple of summers ago, Toulouse ace Cresswell is another former West Ham target. <\/p>\n

\u201cBen is in the same category as (Cresswell and Chelsea\u2019s Colwill). He has lots of potential to go on to play at the highest level, Premier League and potentially international football,\u201d Schofield told The Athletic.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a thirst for learning. Whenever we did individual and collective bits you could really see he was fully engaged. It was a pleasure for myself and the staff to work with him. He can get to the top.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis physical profile is very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

England U20 ace Nelson tipped to become a Premier League star<\/h2>\n

Schofield used Nelson on the left of a back three at Doncaster. That two-footedness is something which presumably appeals to West Ham, given that Nuno utilised the right-footed Disasi on the left last term with excellent results. <\/p>\n

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The captain STAYS! How big of a coup is this for West Ham? \ud83e\udd73<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u201cHe is two-footed, so much so that is hard to tell which is his strongest foot,\u201d Schofield added. \u201cHe would say it is his right but, technically, he receives the ball well with both feet and plays different types of passes off both feet. That is a standout strength.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no reason why he can\u2019t go on and have a very successful career at the top level.\u201d<\/p>\n

ExWhuEmployee claims that West Ham, while adding Nelson to their wishlist, are holding talks with Cardiff City youngster Dylan Lawlor as they step up their pursuit of defensive reinforcements. Lawlor was labelled an \u2018exceptional\u2019 talent by Craig Bellamy following his senior Wales bow, and has another admirer in the shape of former Upton Park stalwart Danny Gabbidon.<\/p>\n

Lawlor, too, is renowned for his bombastic ball-playing and his extreme confidence in possession. Further links with Nelson, ex-Brighton favourite Ben Webster, and Dael Fry \u2013 who has since joined Birmingham City from Middlesbrough \u2013 make it clear that West Ham want a defender who can start attacks as well as stop them.<\/p>\n

Going from Disasi to Lawlor and Nelson will inevitably attract scepticism. But there is clearly a plan in place built around a certain style <\/em>of centre-back.<\/p>\n

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