West Ham have had a slow start to the Premier League season to say the least and having only just won their first match of the season on Sunday, they could be looking ahead to the January transfer window already. 

The Championship is currently brimming with exciting talent and is a place that the Hammers simply must be looking.

Preston North End are a club who have had a difficult start to the 2018/19 campaign but are loaded with young talent.

Alex Neil's side are the youngest in the division and some of the football played last year was well beyond their years as they pushed for the playoffs.

Middlesbrough have had a predictably solid start, largely thanks to their impenetrable backline.

They certainly are not the prettiest team to watch, but the way they defend is something the Hammers could definitely learn from.

Here are two players from the clubs that West Ham will surely be eyeing.

Pearson is a player whose stock has risen massively over the past year or so.

He was a standout performer for Neil's side last season in the defensive midfield role and his hard running, tough tackling and neat passing ability epitomised why Preston were so successful.

West Ham are crying out for somebody like this in their midfield and they will do well to find a better option than Pearson at the moment.

Boro's backline has been nothing short of outstanding this season.

It was to be expected with Aden Flint and Daniel Ayala in there but their fellow centre-back Fry is somebody who has burst onto the scene this season.

He is only 21 but plays with a maturity well beyond his years, so when it comes to the next generation of exciting English talent Fry is certainly a name to remember.