West Ham United have identified former Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez as their final transfer target of a manic summer window, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper reports that the Hammers are close to finalising a deal for Arsenal striker Lucas Perez, who will become signing number nine for the club this summer.
They will then turn their attention to Sanchez, with the 32-year-old in talks to join from Italian side Fiorentina. The Colombian spent last year on loan at Espanyol.
Sanchez was at Villa Park for two years, but never truly found form in a team that was eventually relegated. West Ham are hoping the defensive midfielder will deign to become their tenth and final summer signing.
Good move for West Ham?
The Hammers do have a need in defensive midfield. They have a couple of players who can play that position if necessary, Jack Wilshere, Mark Noble, Pedro Obiang, but no natural destroyer like Sanchez. The Mirror’s report even claims he is nicknamed ‘The Rock’. Judging from Sanchez’s performances the last time he was in the Premier League, though, you have to think that there are better defensive midfield options out there for West Ham. The 32-year-old was playing in a horrendous Villa team, to be fair, but he never looked a class above that sorry bunch. The fact that Fiorentina shipped him out on loan last season is another worrying sign. This move has all the makings of signing that will be forgotten a year from now.
This is Futbol rating: 3/10
Likely to happen?
The Mirror claim that the player is in talks to join from the Serie A side, and Fiorentina would surely be willing to listen to West Ham’s offer after sending him on loan last year. As long as personal terms can be agreed, it looks like Sanchez will be heading to the London Stadium this summer.
This is Futbol rating: 7/10