West Ham are showing no signs of letting up in the summer transfer window as they plot a £20million move for Lyon enforcer Marcelo, according to the Sun.
The 31-year-old centre-back moved to Lyon from Besiktas for just over £6million last summer, but the Sun now claims that Pellegrini is preparing a “shock” £20million offer.
Pellegrini has already brought five new recruits into the club – Issa Diop, Andriy Yarmalenko, Jack Wilshere, Lukas Fabianski and Ryan Fredericks – and they’re on the brink of adding Felipe Anderson too.
Good move for West Ham?
The Sun are claiming it’s a shock move but West Ham need more strength at the heart of their defence and Marcelo would provide it. The big shock is the fee that’s being talked about. £20million is a hell of a lot of money for a 31-year-old, but the 6ft 3in powerhouse was a mainstay for Lyon last season, making 33 appearances and missing just three games. Marcelo has won two titles with Beskitas and one with Wisla Kraków, so comes with experience of winning at the highest level. Plus, it’s hard to doubt Pellegrini at the moment, with the moves he’s making. If he wants him, West Ham fans will be happy to trust he knows what he’s doing.
Likely to happen?
This isn’t the first time that Marcelo has been linked to West Ham, with journalist Alan Nixon linking the player before and saying they would have to pay a big fee to ensure a work permit. Well, this is a big fee and once the Anderson deal is done, and it looks like it might get done over the weekend, this could well be the next big-money West Ham deal to take centre stage.