West Ham are not interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on a permanent deal this summer, according to reliable source ExWHUemployee.
The Hammers were linked with a move for the Spaniard earlier this year, as reported by the Express, but have since signed compatriot Pablo Fornals to operate in a similar area.
And despite the fact that Ceballos has lit up the U21 European Championships this month, it is understood that the Hammers will not make a permanent move.
Writing on their personal Twitter account, when asked if a swoop for Ceballos was still an option, ExWHUemployee said: “I don’t think so unless a loan move was an option”.
I don’t think so unless a loan move was an option
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) June 22, 2019
OPINION
This is a real shame because Ceballos has shown repeatedly this month that he is a player who can really cause some damage. The Hammers might have signed Pablo Fornals, and they do already have Manuel Lanzini and Jack Wilshere who can operate in that advanced midfield role, but Ceballos is a special talent, and there is certainly an argument that the club should reconsider turning their nose up at a swoop for him. His average of 1.3 key passes per game, plus his average of getting dispossessed just once per match [Whoscored], shows just how much quality he has, and it’s hard to ignore that kind of talent when it becomes available. Financially, you can understand why the Hammers might not pounce, but from a footballing point of view, Ceballos would be a properly fantastic signing. It would be a shame to look back in five years and wonder what might have been.
