West Ham United are reportedly interested in a move for Bologna midfielder Mattias Svanberg, according to reports in Italy.
What’s the word?
As per 1000 Cuori Rossoblu, the Hammers are said to be one of a handful of Premier League sides that are eyeing a move for the young Swede, with Everton and Tottenham Hotspur also named as potential suitors.
The report suggests that his current side have offered the 23-year-old a new contract – with his existing deal set to expire next summer – although the player appears keen for pastures new at the end of the season, with a bid of around €20m (£17m) likely to tempt the Serie A outfit into a sale.
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A stay in Italy could also be on the cards, however, with Napoli and Fiorentina also credited with an interest.
Noble’s heir
News of the Hammers’ interest in a new midfield recruit comes as no real surprise, with long-serving club captain Mark Noble set to depart the London Stadium at the end of the season, having spent his entire career with the east London outfit – aside from two brief loan spells at Ipswich and Hull City.
The 35-year-old stalwart made his senior debut back in 2004 after being promoted from the club’s youth set-up, going on to rack up 548 appearances to date and developing something of a cult hero status in the process.
His impending exit then is set to leave a noticeable void in David Moyes’ squad next term, even though the Englishman has largely been reduced to a bit-part role in recent years.
In need of a replacement, in Svanberg the club could well have found the ideal heir to Noble’s throne, the 18-cap international having caught the eye since making the switch to Bologna from Malmo in 2018.
Such is his talent, one source insisted that “he’s probably one of the top four or five No 8’s in Europe”, while also adding that “he’s a very talented young man. He’s playing for a very defensive Bologna side but he can bring a spark to whichever team he plays in.”
With three goals and three assists to his name thus far in the league, the £13.5m-rated man poses a threat in the final third, while also proving a more than adequate presence at the other end of the pitch, averaging a solid 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 0.9 clearances per game thus far this term.
Neither a midfield destroyer nor an all-action goal-getter, Svanberg is simply the glue holding things together in the centre of the park and the man to make things tick – a role that the aforementioned Noble has made his own at West Ham for almost two decades.
As one star departs the club, GSB can secure his ideal replacement this summer.
IN other news, GSB must complete WHU swoop for “unbelievable” £31.5m-rated star, Moyes will love him…
