A deal to take West Ham midfielder back to former club Sampdoria is being held up after the Hammers increased their asking price for the central midfielder, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Italian sports newspaper report that the Hammers are now seeking £9.8million for the 26-year-old, with Sampdoria previously believing a deal in principle had been struck at a lower price.
Gazzetta claim that bosses at the Genoa-based club are now losing patience with proceedings but remain in talks as they desperately look to secure a return for the Spaniard, who spent five years at the club prior to his move to London.
OPINION
It is not clear exactly why West Ham have hiked the price for Obiang, but there could be a couple of reasons behind the move. Firstly, they may be looking to delay the deal long enough so other clubs enter the fray. That would in turn create a bidding war which would hugely drive up the price and bring in extra revenue for the club, something which is much needed following their heavy outlay this summer. The club may also be looking to drive up the price for Obiang after realising the Spaniard’s true market value, with the initial reported fees seeming extremely low for a player of his quality and age. Taking into account the fact that the Spaniard has four years left on his current deal, and his good form for the club in the last season or so, a midfielder of his calibre should be fetching around £15million in today’s market.
