Julen Lopetegui can claim scalp as West Ham United line up Aleix Garcia transfer
West Ham United could prove their mettle in the transfer market if Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia chooses to move to the London Stadium instead of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Guardian has reported that the Hammers have tabled a £14million bid for the Spaniard, but face significant competition from the unbeaten Bundesliga champions.
Julen Lopetegui sees bolstering the London Stadium midfield stocks as a priority, but unlike Girona and Bayer Leverkusen, cannot offer Champions League football next season.
Leverkusen defeated West Ham over two legs in last season’s Europa League quarter-finals, so beating them to the signature of Garcia would represent a small victory in the long run for Lopetegui’s side.
West Ham can complete massive coup with Aleix Garcia signing
Cataluyna Radio journalist Eduard Sola first implied that the Hammers were on course to beat Leverkusen to the signing of Garcia, but given the transfer window has not officially opened yet, there is still plenty of this race left to run.
The Irons’ hands may be forced depending upon the status of Lucas Paqueta in the coming weeks, with the Brazilian facing a potential lifetime ban from football for betting-related FA breaches [The Sun].
Lopetegui’s pursuit of a more defensive-minded midfielder in Garcia suggests a potential change from the 4-2-3-1 formation used by his predecessor David Moyes, with James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez all suited to deeper roles.
West Ham looked on course to give Leverkusen their first defeat of last season for the first 80 minutes of their quarter-final second-leg at the London Stadium, but Jeremie Frimpong denied them that statement win with the goal which sent the German side into the last four.
Beating Leverkusen to Garcia would be one hell of a response, and if Lopetegui can cultivate a game-controlling midfield trio with Garcia at its heart, the Hammers may be in a position to come out on the right side of those tight contests.
In other West Ham news, the club have “closed an agreement” for a La Liga striker in a deal worth £25.5m.
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