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West Ham plan to bid for Lyon midfielder Thiago Mendes
West Ham are planning to bid for Lyon midfielder Thiago Mendes, according to Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola.
Nicola writes for Yahoo Sports that the Hammers could face competition from Flamengo, but the Premier League outfit are leading the race.
The midfielder has a contract at the club till 2023, and Lyon may not be willing to lose him for free.
Interesting
Signing a midfielder is a priority this summer as Mark Noble is set to retire at the end of the season.
Despite the fact that Declan Rice is yet to pen a new deal at the club, if the widespread reports are to be believed, the Hammers won’t sell him in the summer.
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Mendes is an interesting choice. The 30-year-old has been an engine for Lyon and he has made 35 appearances in all competitions this season.
Nicola hails him as an “excellent” midfielder and the Hammers are impressed by him, as they observed him during their Europa League clash.
While Flamengo could be an interesting option for the midfielder, the lure of playing for a Premier League could be too good to turn down if the Hammers come up with an offer.
Moreover, the Hammers can offer him a better pay package and that’s why they are in an advantageous position in this race.
In other West Ham news, Fabrizio Romano responds to David Moyes over Declan Rice’s contract situation.
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