West Ham United made new inquiries about Braga's German centre-back Bright Arrey-Mbi while searching for new defensive options in the January transfer window. The club is exploring alternatives after having difficulty completing a deal for their primary target, Charlie Cresswell, because they could not meet Toulouse's demands. Arrey-Mbi is one of four or five names currently under consideration. The 22-year-old was first considered last summer and is still a player of interest. The defender, who spent his youth career at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, has been recommended and discussed as a potential signing, although there are some minor concerns within West Ham about his readiness for the second half of the season. The Germany U21 international joined Braga in July 2024 and has a contract until June 2029. According to Transfermarkt, he has a current market value of €7.00m. He has made 12 appearances in Liga Portugal this season and has also been linked with Bologna.