According to a report from Italian media outlet Calcio Mercato, Daniele Rugani is edging closer to an exit from Juventus with the Old Lady allegedly ready to sell the centre-back, and West Ham should consider a move for the Italian in January.
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The Hammers have problems in central defence. Fabian Balbuena is looking like he isn’t up to the task. Angelo Ogbonna is on the wrong side of 31 and Winston Reid us unreliable from a fitness perspective.
The addition of a top class centre-back either in January or next summer will surely be a priority for West Ham.
And Rugani would be perfect.
Standing at 6ft 3in, the 25-year-old is strong in the air. He is a top class defender and his playing style is quintessentially Italian. The Juve ace is an expert man marker, and he still has plenty of years left ahead of him at the very highest level. In fact, he is arguably still three of four years away from his prime.
Calcio Mercato claimed in the summer that Juve value Rugani at around €35 million (£30 million).
Tuttosport, meanwhile, suggested that Arsenal were desperate to land the seven-capped Italy international before the season started.
So West Ham will have their work cut-out, if they do indeed want to sign the Juventus ace.
The Hammers should make a bold move for him nonetheless. He is exactly the kind of player they should be targeting. Whether the owners have that kind of ambition, however, is another matter entirely.
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