OPINION
West Ham United are in the midst of an exciting summer transfer window, with new boss Manuel Pellegrini having secured three signings already.
Lukasz Fabianski, Issa Diop and Ryan Fredericks will all be brilliant reinforcements for the Hammers defence, but issues remain in midfield and that is the area which Pellegrini must look to next.
The injury to Manuel Lanzini has left the club sweating on an attacking presence in the middle of the park, and that is a position that will need strengthening before the season begins.
The club have been linked with a move for Aston Villa star Jack Grealish in recent weeks, and the latest development in the story means that the Hammers must be quick and submit a bid for the 22-year-old as soon as possible.
As reported by the Mirror, Grealish has finally decided to leave his boyhood club this summer after weeks of speculation linking him with a move away.
Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are said to be in pole position to sign the Villa dynamo, but the Irons are said to be monitoring the situation.
Pellegrini must now stop monitoring the situation and spring into action, with the next few days being critical in deciding the future of Grealish.
If West Ham are the first team to come in for the youngster, he would have a big decision to make, and they would be in with a brilliant shot of securing his signature.
Tottenham may be able to offer Champions League football and a shot at the top-four, but the Hammers would surely be able to guarantee the dynamo more first-team minutes.
That is crucial for a player in the middle of his development, and Grealish would surely be attracted by a move to the London Stadium.
Villa are said to want £40million for their star man [Daily Mail] but if West Ham were to table an initial bid of around £20million, the Midlands club would certainly have to consider it.
It would be a statement of intent from the Hammers, and one that they must make soon, or the opportunity to sign such an exciting, young, English player will pass them by.
