West Ham are nearing the signing of Villarreal playmaker Pablo Fornals, according to reports.
According to Spanish outlet AS, the Hammers have moved for Fornals and are set to ‘finalise’ his signing for around £22million (€25m).
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The report adds that the transfer could be made official ‘in the coming days’
Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly on the hunt for a technically gifted midfielder to complement Mark Noble and Declan Rice in the middle of the park.
Pellegrini, along with his assistant Mario Husillos, are looking at the Spanish top flight for potential targets and Fornals was linked with a move to the London Stadium in January but a deal never materialised.
Other clubs are monitoring the 23-year-old’s situation but West Ham showed the most interest and have wasted no time in pushing forward with negotiations.
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Fornal’s tally of five goals and six assists in 2018/19 is not wildly impressive, but his ability to dictate the tempo of a game and pick the right pass is an attractive to Pellegrini.
What’s more, a fee of £22million to secure his services represents a steal in the current market for a player of his age and quality, especially as Fornals is alleged to have a £29million release clause written in his contract.
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