West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has got former Hammer Joao Mario and Chelsea fringe figure Ruben Loftus-Cheek among his top targets as he looks to recruit a new midfielder on loan in the January transfer window, according to ExWHUemployee on the West Ham Way podcast.
The reputable Hammers source, who has proven himself as a reliable insider on the Irons, claims that the 25-year-old Portuguese international, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the London Stadium, is being eyed for another loan, while a permanent capture would cost in the region of £25million thanks to a clause in his contract.
Like Mario at Inter Milan, central giant Loftus-Cheek, who stands at 6’3″ (source: Transfermarkt) has been left on the fringes at Stamford Bridge, and ExWHUemployee states that a temporary swoop for the 22-year-old is being eyed by the Hammers.
Good move for West Ham?
The injury issues suffered by the Irons this season have been verging on the ridiculous, and no one would have expected the club to have been looking at yet another central signing in January after their summer.
The Hammers know what they are getting with Mario, although back then it was David Moyes, not Manuel Pellegrini in charge, and there will be questions over whether he fits into the system.
He would also be more suited to covering the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini than Carlos Sanchez, so it depends what the manager wants from a new recruit.
As for Loftus-Cheek, he is too good to be sitting on the bench at Chelsea and a swoop would be a really smart move for the Hammers.
Of the pair, it should be the England man, with his versatility, who the Irons pounce for.
This is Futbol rating: Joao Mario – 7/10, Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 9/10
Likely to happen?
Both are on the fringes of their respective sides, so a move away is on the cards.
The only issue with Mario is if Inter want to sell rather than loan him out, and West Ham are unlikely to spalsh out the £25million asking price.
Loftus-Cheek seems like a realistic signing and with the promise of regular game time, which seems likely this season, he would no doubt be tempted.
This is Futbol rating: Mario – 5/10, Loftus-Cheek – 7/10