Moyes can axe £67k-p/w WHU flop by unleashing 18 y/o "monster" who's "got everything" - opinion

It would be something of an understatement to say that the heart of the West Ham United defence has been a problem area for David Moyes so far this season – with Angelo Ogbonna being ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with an ACL injury, Issa Diop’s form having fallen off a cliff and Kurt Zouma clearly being impacted by a very much self-inflicted off-field issue.

And, while the Hammers have somehow scraped five points from their last three fixtures against Watford, Leicester City and Newcastle United respectively, it is an unavoidable fact that over the Irons’ last eight league games – only one of which has come against a so-called big-six side – they have conceded 13 goals.

As such, it is clear to see why a new centre-back was one of the 58-year-old manager’s priority positions in the January transfer window. However, after failing to bring a fresh face to the club this winter, perhaps it would now be a smart move for the Scotsman to take a closer look at one of the Hammers’ most exciting up and coming defensive talents – in the shape of Jamal Baptiste.

Despite being just 18 years of age, there is already a considerable amount of hype surrounding the future of the young defender – and it is not difficult to see why.

Indeed, the teenager is already a regular in West Ham’s U23 side, having featured in 16 Premier League 2 fixtures so far this season, scoring three goals along the way, as well as appearing in all three of the youth side’s Papa John’s Trophy matches, over which Baptiste provided his teammates with one assist.

Furthermore, the £180k-rated centre-back is clearly a player whom Moyes is aware of, with the 58-year-old having handed the youngster his first-team debut in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Doncaster