Ricardo Rodriguez West Ham move talk suggests Manuel Pellegrini might be ready to sell Arthur Masuaku

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West Ham United have been linked with a move for Albian Ajeti’s international teammate Ricardo Rodriguez.

Many West Ham fans felt Manuel Pellegrini needed to sign a new left-back in the summer.

The Hammers were linked with several.

But instead Pellegrini spent his paltry budget elsewhere and handed new deals to Arthur Masuaku and – just last week – Aaron Cresswell.

Both contract extensions divided opinion among supporters.

Rodriguez links could be bad news for inconsistent Masuaku

And Masuaku in particular has failed to justify his deal since.

So new links with AC Milan left-back Rodriguez, a Swiss teammate of Hammers striker Ajeti, could have serious consequences for the DR Congo defender.

Italian outlet Tuttosport has reported that Rodriguez wants to leave after being benched this season.

Tuttosport recalls that West Ham tried to sign him Rodriguez on loan, for which they would have paid £2.5m.

Is Pellegrini losing faith?

Included in that deal was an option to buy for £10million. And the report suggests the new situation could tempt the Hammers into a January move.

Fellow Hammers website Claret and Hugh – which claims to have a top level source inside West Ham – has suggested the move would be unlikely.

But the fact Pellegrini was looking at the 27-year-old in the first place might suggest he is losing faith in Masuaku.

The hot and cold left-back has lost his place to a resurgent Cresswell this season. Masuaku has often spoken out in public about not wanting to play at left-back.

And he was at his woeful worst in the 4-0 defeat to Oxford the last time he featured for West Ham.

Watch this space

Masuaku is something of a favourite with a section of West Ham fans.

And after signing a deal until 2024, West Ham could expect to recoup a decent fee if they did decide to sell.

If West Ham did sign set-piece Rodriguez, Mark Noble’s position as penalty taker looks secure.

That’s if the left-back’s effort in Switzerland’s victory over Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night is anything to go by.

Former Hammers goalkeeper Darren Randolph saved his effort from 12 yards.