West Ham have tabled a contract offer to Paris-Saint Germain attacking midfielder Javier Pastore, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Sky Sports Italy journalist has claimed on his personal website that the Hammers and a Chinese club have both put offers on the table for the 28-year-old Argentina international, whose price is fixed by the Ligue 1 champions at £22million.
Di Marzio reports Pastore is “not convinced” by either club and would prefer a move to Roma even though he would have to take a pay cut to seal a move.
OPINION
If Pastore would prefer a return to Italy then West Ham have their work cut out sealing this deal. The brilliant playmaker is the kind of player the Londoners are crying out for, especially after the shattering anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained by Manuel Lanzini that will sideline him for the entirety of next season. He would provide craft and guile in spades, and could be just the player to maximise the immense ability of Marko Arnautovic, not to mention Javier Hernandez. It is perhaps telling that Pastore’s agent Simonian is, as Di Marzio points out, expected in Italy today to progress negotiations with Roma. The former Palermo player made his name in Serie A before quitting in 2011 for PSG, where he was one of the first mega signings following the vast investment in the club from the Qatari owners. Pastore has scored 45 goals and supplied 62 assists in 269 appearances for PSG. Whoever gets him will be signing a bona fide star.
