West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang is on the verge of returning to former side Sampdoria after the Irons agreed a loan-to-buy deal with a obligatory purchase clause, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
The Italian football news website claim that the two clubs have come to an agreement to see the 26-year-old head back to Serie A three years after leaving, with a £1.7million (€2million) loan fee the initial spend on capturing his signature, with a £6.2million (€7million) clause which Sampdoria must pay at the end of his temporary spell.
Obiang made 126 appearances for Sampdoria before joining the Irons, where he turned out 87 times, and it is said that the deal just needs his signature to be completed.
Opinion
After the big spending that has been going on at the London Stadium this summer, with the likes of Felipe Anderson and Jack Wilshere joining, it should have been expected that there would be some first team casualties, and Obiang looks set to be the first to head out the exit door. The loan to buy deal means Sampdoria have time to spread out the payments for his capture, but do not give West Ham to immediate influx of cash they might want or need. Obiang will no doubt be happy to return to the club which gave him his break in the professional game, as well as being given the chance for first team football, something which would not have been a guarantee had he stayed at West Ham. He will not be the only first team star leaving the club this summer, but if this is how deals are going to be structured, the Hammers faithful should not expect too many more new arrivals.