West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini has been boosted in his pursuit of France midfielder Steven Nzonzi.
According to reports from a host of outlets last summer including Le10 Sport West Ham were serious contenders to sign the former Stoke City and Blackburn midfielder after Pellegrini took charge last summer.
An impressive World Cup campaign with eventual winners France saw the list of potential suitors grow.
West Ham could finally land Nzonzi
And Roma ended up beating the Hammers to the then Sevilla midfielder’s signature.
Nzonzi was widely considered to be one of the finest all-round midfielders playing anywhere in Europe until his move to Roma.
The rangy midfielder has failed to help Roma kick on, though, with the club suffering their worst season for years and Nzonzi contributing just one goal.
Pellegrini wants another combative midfielder
West Ham desperately want another combative midfielder alongside Declan Rice. The club’s pursuit of Gary Medel was evidence of that (Sky Sports).
And Pellegrini has been given great encouragement by a new report from Italy which claims Nzonzi is pushing to leave Roma for the Premier League this summer.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Nzonzi wants to move back to England to escape his Roma nightmare and be closer to his son.
Nzonzi wants Premier League return
West Ham could get a head start on any potential rivals for Nzonzi too.
Gazzetta reports that Roma are yet to receive any offers from Premier League clubs.
Nzonzi is now into his 30s. But he is a fit, agile and technically gifted midfielder. And he would also complement Rice perfectly in the heart of West Ham’s team.
Although signing him would almost certainly see captain Mark Noble’s Hammers career ended in terms of being a guaranteed starter.
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