West Ham have tabled a £20million bid to sign Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals, according to Football Insider, but could be prepared to pay significantly more for the player.
The source says that the Hammers are considering raising their offer to £30million, which – if the 23-year-old signed for that much – would make him the club’s second-most expensive signing behind Felipe Anderson [Source: BBC].
The report adds that while advanced talks between the clubs have already been underway, more discussions are planned which could see the deal wrapped up by the end of play on Wednesday.
Good move for West Ham?
Most definitely. Fornals scored five goals and provided six assists in 50 games last term, and while that may not seem like a great return, there is every chance that the 23-year-old would be able to improve that record under a manager like Pellegrini. The Football Insider report adds that West Ham’s sporting director, Mario Husillos, is leading negotiations, with himself and Pellegrini both having worked alongside Fornals at Malaga. So it looks like this is a player the pair really trust, and it seems as if they are really keen to get him on board at the London Stadium this summer.
This is Futbol rating 7/10
Likely to happen?
For £20million, you wouldn’t have thought so. But raise the stakes to £30million, and that is a whole new proposition for Villarreal to consider. It’s an extra £10million, and the Spanish side surely cannot turn that offer down. If this Football Insider report is true, there is definitely every chance a deal could be completed in the very near future.
This is Futbol rating 9/10