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By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X) With transfer deadline day approaching, West Ham remain in talks over the signing of Nottingham Forest defender Morato as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to strengthen his defensive options. Claret & Hugh sources say the Hammers have been looking closely at the Brazilian for around a week, with one source telling us: “At this stage, he looks like the most likely centre-back West Ham will sign.” West Ham clearly believe another central defender is required. The emergence of Airidas Golambeckis has been hugely encouraging, but after spending much of the window pursuing Axel Disasi, it would be surprising if the club didn’t strengthen before the deadline. Indeed, the need for another centre-back became even more obvious when the Disasi deal disappeared. So, what exactly could Morato bring? 1. He’s A Massive Presence But Not Dominant At around 6ft 4in, Morato certainly looks built for Championship football. The 25-year-old is a physically imposing defender who has already accumulated significant experience with Benfica and Nottingham Forest. However, there is a concerning catch. Despite his size, Morato’s aerial-duel success in the Premier League data sits at just 45.45%. That’s not too clever and certainly the statistic that concerns me most and one to keep an eye on should he join West Ham. 2. He’s A Left-Footed Centre-Back Morato is naturally left-footed, which immediately provides competition for the also aerially challenged Max Kilman. I certainly wouldn’t expect the pair to play together regularly. If Morato forces his way into Nuno’s starting XI, I’d imagine it would be alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos. Kilman hasn’t exactly made the left-sided centre-back position his own, so genuine competition wouldn’t be a bad thing. The emergence of Golambeckis has certainly helped the situation, with the youngster taking his Championship opportunity superbly at Watford, but West Ham still look light in the position. 3. He’s Already Accustomed To English Football This isn’t a developmental signing who’ll need months to acclimatise. Morato has Premier League experience with Nottingham Forest and previously played Champions League and Europa League football for Benfica. At 25, he’s also entering what should be the prime years of his career. That makes some sense for West Ham. Nuno needs somebody capable of challenging for a starting place now rather than another prospect who might be ready in two years. 4. He’s Surprisingly Progressive Perhaps the hidden gem in Morato’s numbers is what he does with the football. He’s averaging 8.55 progressive passes per 90 minutes, placing him 16th among the Premier League centre-backs displayed in the data. For such an imposing defender, there appears to be considerably more to his game than simply heading and tackling. With Championship opponents increasingly prepared to sit deep against West Ham, having another defender comfortable progressing the ball certainly wouldn’t hurt. | Morato – Key Stat | Value | |---|---| | Height | 6ft 4in (192cm) | | Defensive duels won | 64.63% | | Aerial duels won | 45.45% | | Progressive passes | 8.55 per 90 | | Recoveries | 9.25 per 90 | 5. He Gets Through Plenty Of Defensive Work Morato is averaging 9.25 recoveries per 90 and winning 64.63% of his defensive duels. Those are encouraging numbers, even if that aerial record remains something of a mystery for somebody his size. West Ham need another centre-back and Morato certainly ticks several boxes. He’s experienced, left-footed, physically imposing and comfortable progressing the ball. Whether he’s being signed as an immediate first choice is another question entirely, but with the clock ticking towards the transfer deadline, he increasingly looks like the defender Nils Koppen believes he can actually get through the door.