Attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini is currently out with a serious knee injury and the doctors have said he could be out for a significant amount of time.
And in such a scenario, new boss Manuel Pellegrini is trying to bring in a player who can replace the Argentinian in midfield.
If reports are to be believed then the Hammers have narrowed down on Inter Milan’s Joao Mario as a replacement to the injured Lanzini.
Joao Mario spent the second half of the 2017-18 season at the London stadium but the Hammers did not exercise the offer to buy as many believe that Inter Milan priced the Premier League outfit from making a permanent offer.
But now it seems that Manuel Pellegrini has gone back to Inter Milan with yet another loan offer but the Serie A side now want to offload the Portuguese international permanently.
West Ham want midfielder Joao Mario on yet another loan deal but Inter Milan want to offload him permanently. Other offers from Real Betis and Sporting club are also for loan sanctions.[Di Marzio]#WestHam #WestHamUnitedFC #Hammers #COYI #InterMilan #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/FGPtiAdnbO
— Football Fan Base (@Official_TFFB) July 25, 2018
Mario started his spell at West Ham in a lack-lustre fashion but the midfielder picked up pace as the season rolled along and eventually ended the 2017-18 season on a positive note.
Pellegrini feels that Joao Mario will be a perfect alternative to Manuel Lanzini given the fact that the 25-year-old is already familiar with life at the London stadium.
Inter Milan though do not want to get into a hassle of a loan move and want to offload the midfielder permanently to any club who are willing to pay £26 odd million.
The Hammers have already spend a significant amount of money during the transfer window so spending that much of money on any player is out of the window for them.
Thankfully though not too money, other clubs are interested in signing Joao Mario permanently as Gianluca Di Marzio claims that clubs like Real Betis and Sporting Club also want the midfielder – but on loan deals.
Read: Midfielder gives a hint on his immediate Gers future amidst rumours of a move to England.
Read: West Ham looking to sign ‘this’ 228-game man as their third defender.
