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Ogbonna eyed up by Sampdoria

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Image for Ogbonna eyed up by Sampdoria

West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has been lined up as a top transfer target by Italian side Sampdoria this summer, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.

The Italian football news website report that the Blucerchiati view the 13-time-capped Italian international as a replacement for centre back Milan Skriniar, who they are ready to sell.

Sampdoria managed a mid-table finish last season, coming 11th – the same position West Ham finished in the Premier League.

Ogbonna joined the Hammers in the summer of 2015 from Italian giants Juventus for £8.5million and is contracted to remain at the East London side until 2019.

He excelled in his first season for Slaven Bilic’s side, making 39 appearances across all competitions as he helped them finish an impressive sixth in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League qualifying stage.

However, after completing every minute of 17 straight league games, Ogbonna was revealed to have been carrying a knee injury in January and underwent surgery which ruled him out of the rest of the season.

He had managed to make 26 appearances across all competitions, including a humbling 5-0 defeat to Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup.

The 29-year-old Italian made his international debut back in 2011 in a 2-0 win over Poland, and his last appearance for his country in September 2016.

Were Ogbonna to depart, boss Bilic would find his options at the heart of the defence limited, with James Collins, Winstond Reid and Jose Fonte the only other recognised centre backs in his squad.

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