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West Ham could attempt to re-sign Joao Mario in January

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West Ham could launch a swoop to re-sign Joao Mario in the January transfer window amid the club’s current injury crisis, according to Claret & Hugh.

The reliable Hammers news site claims that Manuel Pellegrini may offer Mario, 25, an escape route from Inter Milan in the winter after being frozen out by the Italian giants due to comments he made in the media.

Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported in the summer that Inter value the Portugal international at £26.5million and want only want to offload him on a permanent basis.

Mario spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham.

Good move for West Ham?

Mario was a decent player for the Hammers during his loan spell last season as he scored two goals and supplied one assist in 14 appearances across all competitions, however Pellegrini should not be looking to re-sign him unless it is absolutely necessary.

Pellegrini’s priority should be getting in a top quality defensive midfielder because he already has plenty of attacking midfielders and by the time January comes around, Manuel Lanzini could be back in action.

Mario also would cost a lot of money judging by Inter’s reported valuation and he is yet to kick a ball in first team football this season, so it may take him a while to reach match fitness.

This is Futbol rating 5/10

Likely to happen?

Unless Inter are willing to let Mario leave on loan or drop their insane asking price by about £10million, there is no way that West Ham will be re-signing their former player in January.

It just would not make any sense unless an even worse injury crisis was to hit the London Stadium.

Pellegrini needs a left-back, defensive midfielder and striker in January before anything else.

This is Futbol rating 3/10

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