West Ham United eye move to sign Benfica midfielder Julian Weigl
West Ham are one of the clubs competing to sign Benfica midfielder Julian Weigl, according to Record.
The Portuguese newspaper reported in their printed edition (1 August; page 13) that the Hammers are one of the clubs vying for his signature.
They face competition from the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Monchengladbach, Hertha Berlin, Milan and Atalanta for his signature.
Benfica are ready to sell the midfielder, and they are demanding a fee of around £12.5m for the 26-year-old.
Experienced
Weigl is an experienced German midfielder, and he would be a very good addition for the Hammers.
The 26-year-old joined Benfica in 2020 from Borussia Dortmund. He has made over 110 appearances for the Portuguese giants and has five goals to his name.
The former Dortmund midfielder is very strong in tackling, and equally good with his passing.
David Moyes is keen to land a midfielder this summer, and the Hammers have been linked with a move for Lille midfielder Amadou Onana.
However, Weigl would come at a decent price, and he is well within the club’s budget.
It has been suggested that his salary is one of the main reasons why other clubs didn’t make an approach as of now.
Surely, the Hammers can match his ambitions, unless he is demanding an exorbitant amount.
If the Hammers add a defensive midfielder to their ranks, it could mean Declan Rice could be given more licence to join the attack next season.