West Ham have entered to race to sign Mario Balotelli and have made an offer that surpasses that of Marseille’s, according to respected Italian football journalist Carlo Laudisa.
Writing on his own personal Twitter account, the Gazzetta dello Sport journalist suggested that the Hammers are now the strongest candidates to land the mercurial Italian.
Colpo di scena per #Balotelli. Si fa avanti il #WestHam ed è una candidatura forte che sorpassa il #Marsiglia
— Carlo Laudisa (@carlolaudisa) January 22, 2019
The 28-year-old Premier League winner was reportedly on the verge of joining the Ligue 1 side and had agreed personal terms ahead of a move from Nice, as reported by L’Equipe.
It is now understood that the Irons could rival that offer, however.
Good move for West Ham?
It depends on which Mario Balotelli turns up. On his day the Italian is world class, and last season at Nice he looked as good as he ever has. This year, however, he has gone off the boil, looking unfit, uninterested, and unlikely to make any kind of positive impact. Balotelli has always been temperamental, and the gamble you take by bringing him into a club is that he could prove to be a flamboyant waste of time and money who could disrupt the dressing room. When he is good though, he is very, very good, and Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping he can get the best out of him if a deal does go through.
Forever West Ham rating: 7/10
Likely to happen?
Even if West Ham do surpass Marseille’s offer, this one would still feel a little too surreal to go through. Balotelli has had two bites of the cherry in England and neither have been runaway successes. If the Hammers are serious about him then there is every chance they could land a cut price bargain, but Marseille, so close to completing a deal, will not go down without a fight and West Ham must be prepared for a battle.
Forever West Ham rating: 7/10
