West Ham are reportedly unwilling to pay a £1.3million loan fee for Joao Mario, according to Calciomercato.
The website claim that the Hammers were in talks with Inter Milan about taking the midfielder on loan, with an option to buy, but West Ham are reluctant to spend £1.3million that they won’t get back.
Calciomercato report that Mario had originally stopped talks because he didn’t want to join West Ham, but talks have gotten back underway over the last few days due to the player’s change of heart.
The same report believes that the Italian giants have paused their discussion with the Hammers due to the new stumbling block, in order think of a new strategy.
The centre-midfielder, who can also play on the right-wing or as an attacking midfielder, has made 15 appearances for Inter Milan this season.
Good move for West Ham?
No. The Hammers need to stop their pursuit of a player, who has already messed them about without even being at the club.
West Ham are right to have doubts about investing £1.3million into a temporary deal, as they won’t get that money back.
While David Moyes’ side need reinforcements in midfield, they shouldn’t be desperate enough to invest more than £1million into a temporary deal.
They have plenty of options to pursue instead of Mario.
This Is Futbol rating 3/10
Likely to happen?
With this being the second stumbling block to halt a deal happening in a short space of time; the deal looks dead.
Inter Milan are keen to get rid of Mario in order to bring in another player, but there are other teams in which to sell their midfielder to.
West Ham will only stump up the £1.3million fee if they’ll unable to sign other targets before the end of the window.
This Is Futbol rating 3/10