World Cup star Azzedine Ounahi has ended his silence on his future after links to both West Ham and Newcastle in the January window.
And the Morocco star has had some very interesting things to say about his situation and what he wants.
90Min has reported that Newcastle and West Ham are among a host of clubs who want to sign Ounahi after his stunning World Cup campaign.
It means yet another transfer tussle between Hammers boss David Moyes and his Magpies counterpart Eddie Howe after spending most of the summer fighting over targets.
It is easy to see why the Morocco midfield ace is on the radar of both Newcastle and West Ham.
Ounahi, 22, seriously caught the eye with his performances for Morocco at the World Cup.
Reports suggested Moyes could use Nayef Aguerd to try and lure his Morocco teammate away from Angers.
But Leicester appeared to leapfrog both West Ham and Newcastle in the bidding when they blew Moyes and Howe out of the water by tabling a £39m offer last weekend (L’Équipe).
Yesterday we brought you the latest news from France that claimed the midfield ace had dealt the Hammers and Howe a blow because he favours a move to Italy.
Well now World Cup star Ounahi has ended his silence on his future after the West Ham and Newcastle links and claims of his Serie A preference.
And it could be good news for both Moyes and Howe.
Because not only has the Angers midfielder made it clear he is going to leave. He insists he does NOT have a preference for Italy.
And the Sergio Busquets-esque star also insists it is all about the sporting project rather than a big name, money or Champions League football.
“I told the President, the sporting project comes first (when it comes to who I join),” Ounahi has said on his club’s official website.
“I don’t have a favourite league or an ideal destination, I want above all to evaluate the sporting project.
“I know that I still have progress to make at the club where I will go.
“I want to be clear with everyone, I have no preference for this or that league, as if there is a real sporting project, then that’s where I will go.”
Signing Ounahi would be massive for West Ham or Newcastle. It would be a real statement capture following his brilliant World Cup displays.
West Ham arguably need him more than Newcastle – especially with the spectre of Declan Rice potentially leaving in the summer.
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