West Ham have bid £20million for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, according to Sky Sports.
The sports broadcaster claim that the Portuguese giants want £25million for their 23-year-old attacking midfielder, which means the Hammers’ current offer is £5million under Sporting’s asking price.
Sky Sports report that Fernandes is one of the players currently at Sporting that has asked to have his current contract terminated after a group of 50 people attacked players and staff at the club’s training ground in May.
It is believed that the 23-year-old could therefore be available for free this summer but that Sporting are working on a compromise whereby the club would receive a cut-price transfer fee for his services.
Good move for West Ham?
Yes, this is one of the best possible signings the club could think to make this summer.
Given that Fernandes is possibly available for a cut-price fee then the Hammers would be foolish to not try and sign him in this window.
The 23-year-old is a fabulous passer of the ball, excellent crosser, dangerous from set-pieces and is able to make a goalkeeper uneasy by firing powerfully accurate shots from distances in order to try his luck.
With Fernandes still being only 23 then the promising attacking talent will no doubt only get better and it would be amazing if he was to play his regular football at the London Stadium for many seasons.
Forever West Ham rating: 9/10
Likely to happen?
After impressing in his 56 outings for Sporting last season and featuring for Portugal twice at the World Cup in Russia then the Hammers will have a lot of competition for his signature.
According to Sky Sports another Premier League side have shown concrete interest in the player and that La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are also keen on recruiting him.
However with Manuel Pellegrini in the Hammers’ dugout for the 2018/19 season then perhaps the prestigious boss can convince Fernandes that exciting times are afoot at the London club.
This could easily see them win his signature as even if the Hammers end up having to pay £25million for the midfielder then they should still be able to afford getting a deal done.
Forever West Ham rating: 7/10
