Fabian Ruiz makes decision as West Ham United match Paris Saint-Germain offer for player
Fabian Ruiz has opted to join Paris Saint-Germain from Napoli this summer, rejecting the advances of West Ham United according to Foot Mercato.
Ruiz has entered the final year of his contract with the Serie A club and was attracting interest from several clubs, including Manchester United, West Ham and PSG.
Now the Spaniard has agreed a move to the French capital, agreeing a five-year deal worth around £4.2m per year (£81k per week). But according to journalist Santi Aouna, West Ham had agreed to match that offer.
Writing on their website [August 7], he said; “Another club has looked into this issue, it is West Ham who would have made the same proposal as Paris Saint-Germain to secure the services of the Neapolitan midfielder.
“However, the player is said to be uninterested in joining the Premier League and the suburban London club.”
Blow
There was plenty of reports surrounding the Hammers’ interest in signing Ruiz’s teammate Piotr Zielinski this summer, but this deal was pretty quiet.
Ruiz is a midfielder who excels in a deeper role, dictating the play with his excellent range of passing and helping defensively with his intelligence and positioning.
He would have been a picture perfect partner for Declan Rice in midfield, but having already beaten PSG to the signing of Gianluca Scamacca this summer asking the club to do it again here was always going to be difficult.
PSG are a side at the top of their game, full of world class players all over the pitch and consistently challenging for trophies domestically and in Europe. Add their billions to the equation too, it’s no surprise he’s picked them.
But West Ham should be delighted that they’re even in the conversation for players of such quality and if they keep shopping in those markets, they’re bound to improve the squad before the window shuts.