West Ham United are now weighing up a concrete approach for a “dangerous” England international, who is being targeted by a number of Premier League clubs.
West Ham in need of reinforcements
It has been nothing short of an awful start to the campaign for West Ham, having lost four of their first five Premier League games, most recently coming up short in a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace at the London Stadium.
Consequently, the Hammers sit in 18th place, and there are serious doubts over Graham Potter’s future, with the manager recording the worst points per game of any manager in the club’s history.
Games
25
Wins
6
Draws
5
Losses
14
Points per match
0.92
That said, the players also need to take a share of the blame for the subpar start to the season, and it could be argued that the Irons need a fresh injection of quality in January, with their Premier League status potentially on the line.
As such, West Ham have now joined the race for a new central midfielder, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states they are weighing up a concrete approach for AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is being targeted by a number of Premier League clubs.
Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also named as potential suitors for the midfielder, with his future at the Italian club still up in the air, and previous reports have suggested £17m could be enough to get a deal over the line.
Loftus-Cheek’s current deal is set to run until June 2027, but Milan are set to review his contract early next year, at which point they could choose to sanction a sale, amid widespread interest from English clubs.
"Dangerous" Loftus-Cheek could be savvy signing
At just £17m, a deal for the 10-time England international wouldn’t break the bank, and there are indications he could be a success at the London Stadium, having impressed in the Premier League in the past.
The former Chelsea man has 157 Premier League appearances to his name across spells with the Blues, Fulham and Crystal Palace, during which time he picked up 31 goal contributions, and he has since gone on to catch the eye in Italy.
Gianfranco Zola said: “He’s a great player and if he can find continuity, also protecting himself from injuries, he will be a true top player. One of those who allow you to make a huge leap in quality: he breaks the balance, he gets past his man, physically very strong.
“He’s always dangerous, effective on the counter-attack, decisive in his movement. In the area, he makes his physicality count.”
Having recently returned to the England set-up, there are signs the 29-year-old may still have a lot left to give, so West Ham should undoubtedly try and get a deal done this January.