Hammers eye Martins-Indi hijack
It has been reported in the last few days by TEAMtalk.com that we are set hijack Stoke City’s move for Porto defender Bruno Martins-Indi. The Dutch international spent last season on loan at The Bet 365 Stadium, making 35 Premier League appearances and scoring once. We are looking to bolster our defensive options to overcome the problems that we had last season, but many are suggesting that the signing of Pablo Zabaleta is the only business that Slaven Bilic will do in that area this summer. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old is understood to be keen on a move to London, but Porto are reportedly setting an asking price of £10 million for the physical centre-back. So, could the 2014 World Cup third place Play-Off winner be the man to cure our defensive issues next season?
Hammers target confirms Turkey exit
Turkish side Osmanlispor have confirmed that our target, attack minded midfielder Badou Ndiaye, will be departing this summer. The club’s Vice President Ender Yurtseven confirmed the news, with rumours of a move to a Premier League club already being in place. We are reportedly leading the race to sign the No 10, with Crystal Palace also understood to be interested. The 26-year-old has notched six goals in 26 Super Liga appearances in Turkey and has also bagged a Europa League goal in his time at Osmanlispor. With either us or the South London club set to announce the signing, only the next few days will tell whether Ndiaye will join fellow Senegal teammates Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho at The London Stadium next season.
Sunderland ramp up Snodgrass interest
It has been rumoured in the last few days by North East based newspapers that Sunderland have stepped up their interest the race to sign our Scottish international midfielder Robert Snodgrass. The 29-year-old was signed in January as a replacement for French winger Dimitri Payet, but has struggled to settle in at The London Stadium and is now set to depart after just six months under Slaven Bilic. The former Hull City man has been linked with a move to the newly promoted duo of Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town, but it is understood that interest from The Black Cats could sway the winger. However, Gold and Sullivan’s asking price of £8 million is said to be the only thing putting new manager Simon Grayson off the deal. So, will Snodgrass be heading south to The Seagulls or North to The Stadium of Light?
Bilic set to hunt relegated star
It has been reported this week by Talk Sport that we are set to join the race to land Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia. The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at Hull City, but his efforts were unable to keep The Tigers afloat in The Premier League. Many Hammers fans will remember the former Genoa man for scoring the winner against us at The KCOM Stadium in early April, but it would be us who had the last laugh after the North-East club were relegated to The Championship. However, Ranocchia was undoubtedly a shining star in the torrid campaign and could provide the answer to our defensive woes. Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town are also understood to be interested and the race to sign the Italy international is expected to go down to the wire. Will Slaven Bilic be prepared to battle it out to make an unlikely defensive signing in the coming months?