da bet nacional： [ad_pod ]
da casino： West Ham United are lining up a summer move for long-term target Gary Medel, per Claret & Hugh.
The Hammers were tracking the Besiktas midfielder in January but no move materialised.
What’s the word?
Football FanCast reported at the start of January that Medel was on the club’s radar as a potential signing.
Indeed, sources at the club told FFC that he was being considered as a back-up to Declan Rice.
He will be out of contract in 2020 and Claret & Hugh report that manager Manuel Pellegrini remains wary of the lack of depth behind the 20-year-old.
Indeed, the story claims that were the England international to pick up an injury, there is no obvious replacement at the club.
Medel has subsequently been identified and a fee of around £5million has been touted.
A sensible move
Medel would be a solid if unspectacular signing for the Hammers.
He has experience of English football, having played for Cardiff City in the 2013-14 season, and is a national compatriot of Pellegrini.
With Rice shouldering the burden of being the only natural defensive midfielder at the club, a bargain move for Medel makes all the sense in the world.
He would only play sporadically but, at the age of 31, he is unlikely to care, while he will surely be heartily compensated.
Rice will of course be delighted that the Chilean will only be a reserve for him, but also be pleased about his arrival as he can learn from a player with huge experience in a position he is still learning about.