West Ham are interested in signing 56 cap Portuguese international William Carvalho as a possible replacement for Declan Rice, according to Estadio Deportivo.
The Hammers have previously been linked with the 27-year-old, as reported by the Telegraph, with the club supposedly making a then record bid in excess of £27 million for the midfielder back in 2017.
It is understood that the Irons could reignite that interest as they face up to the possibility of losing Rice, who is believed to be a target for Manchester United, as reported by the Daily Star.
Good move for West Ham?
Yes and no. On the one hand, Carvalho is a top quality player with a wealth of experience at the highest and plenty left to give for any prospective club he might sign for. His presence in the centre of the park cannot be understated, and he would be a wonderful addition for the Hammers. On the other hand, it sounds as if the Hammers will only make a move if they lose Declan Rice. Obviously, nobody wants that to happen, expect perhaps Manchester United fans. If bringing in Carvalho means losing Rice in the process, forget about it.
This is Futbol rating: 4/10
Likely to happen?
Stranger things have happened, of course. Rice is in demand, and you would expect somebody, somewhere along the line, to test West Ham’s resolve with an approach this summer. Whether he would actually leave is a different matter entirely, but even if he were to stay, there’s no saying that the Hammers wouldn’t still move for Carvalho given his qualities as a player and their need to recruit this summer.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10