David Moyes look set to miss out on bringing Joao Mario back to West Ham United.
Lap of honour farewells beckon for West Ham quartet after Saints finale
Mario spent the second-half of the 2017/18 season on loan at the London Stadium.
Moyes signed the 46-capped Portugal international on loan from Inter Milan during his first stint in charge of West Ham.
Moyes wanted Mario back at West Ham?
And he did his bit to help keep West Ham up, scoring two crucial goals and laying on two assists in 12 games.
Mario did not set the world alight but did enough to suggest he would be a useful player for the Hammers.
Particularly given West Ham’s lack of central midfield options, which were exposed by the injury to Declan Rice this season.
Mario, 28, has spent the season on loan at his first club Sporting and has a year left on his contract.
Insider claimed agent had been in touch with Hammers about a return but midfielder looks set for Portugal
ExWHUemployee claimed last month that Mario’s agent had contacted West Ham about the possibility of a return to east London.
But West Ham look set to miss out as Mario is said to be close to sealing a permanent £6.6million return to Sporting according to a host of sources including transfer specialist Nicolo Schira and FcInterNews.it.
West Ham will be playing European football next season.
And Moyes knows he needs a bigger squad.
Moyes knows Hammers need deeper squad for European adventure
The Scot admitted as much ahead of the season finale (Evening Standard).
West Ham’s big priority is to sign a striker this summer. Moyes is desperate to retain Jesse Lingard but the chances of that are looking increasingly unlikely.
Central midfield cover is a must.
And the Hammers may also need a new left-back, central defender and goalkeeper.
Whether Moyes has the funds to do that remains to be seen.
Lap of honour farewells beckon for West Ham quartet after Saints finale
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