According to Italian football expert Gianluca Di Marzio, West Ham are interested in signing Udinese midfielder Seko Fofana this month, and some Hammers fans took to Twitter in reaction to the speculation.
The Hammers are desperately short in central midfield, although it does look like they are moving to address that issue, as they close in on the signing of Slavia Prague midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to the Guardian.
It could be argued that the signing of just one central midfielder is not enough, however.
Gianluca Di Marzio claims that the Udinese man could be available for just €20 million (£17 million) this month.
Seko Fofana (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
And Fofana is a slightly different player to the Czech ace anyway.
The Ivory Coast international is more of a ball playing central midfielder.
According to Who Scored, in 16 Serie A games this season, he has averaged 29.6 passes per match with an impressive completion rate of 86.5%. He has also averaged 1.2 key passes and 2.3 successful dribbles per game during that period.
At 24, Fofana is approaching the prime years of his career, so it would be a good time to buy the Udinese ace, especially for the reported fee of just £17 million.
Some West Ham fans took to Twitter, and were sceptical that the club’s owners will pay that kind of money for the midfielder, however…
We admire a lot of players. But buy very few. We’ll probably offer £10m after we loan him for 6months
— Jon Bish (@Bishy613) January 24, 2020
That’s a new one…. “Admirers”
— duranster (@wildgatorz) January 24, 2020
At that price no chance we will pay that
— will earle (@willearle_) January 24, 2020
I wish this was true but let’s face it, the David’s aren’t spending a cent this January regardless our plight with relegation. Loans are all we are getting 😒
— JimmyHammer (@jimmyshammers85) January 24, 2020
Yea the offer of €6m with a packet of cheese and onion crisps and a mars bar. Paid over 15years.
— Michael Leech (@leechey) January 24, 2020
Incoming bid of 2 and half grand or a loan deal where we don’t pay he’s wages
— JC (@irnbru_pappi) January 24, 2020
that’s great value, he’s fire
— Stephen George Lott (@stephenlott) January 28, 2020
Sullivan…. I can do £17.50p in monthly instalments over 3 years
— ⚒ Kenny ⚒ (@TheKennyKen) January 24, 2020
18 month loan with no obligation to buy coming from Sully in 3….2…1
— Brendan (@bmoneyproblemz) January 24, 2020
Sullivan will offer €7 million instead
— Tom 父 (@_lxnzixi10_) January 24, 2020
18 month loan, paid in 5 installments over 10 years
— 父 Dylan 父 (@Dylbec) January 24, 2020
2m euro loan fee instead?
— Adam Cox (@that_island) January 24, 2020