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15 goals and six assists: West Ham ready to launch bid for £11.5m Serie A playmaker
By Alex Taylor
West Ham are eyeing a move for Fiorentina forward Josip Ilicic on the back of glowing scouting dossier, according to a report.
Football website Read West Ham, citing Ghanasoccernet, claim the east London club are among several Premier League teams in pursuit of the 28-year-old’s services, with interest also from Leicester, Liverpool and Tottenham.
It is said the attacking midfielder is valued at £11.5million by his current club and West Ham are behind favourites Leicester to clinch a deal.
It appears that Fiorentina could be set to hand Ilicic a contract extension but with speculation mounting about his future, manager Paulo Sousa is believed to be willing to field offers for the player’s services before making a decision on whether or not to retain his services.
The 37-times-capped Slovenia international has two years remaining on his contract with the Italian club.
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He scored 13 goals and supplied six assists in 30 Serie A appearances last year, and scored 15 times in all competitions.
West Ham, who finished seventh place in their last domestic campaign and qualified for Europa League football next season, have already made additions to their squad this summer after competing the signing of Valencia wide-man Sofiane Feghouli on a free transfer earlier this month.
In other West Ham news, the club are said to be edging closer to bringing Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi to the Olympic Stadium in a £31million deal.