West Ham United have strengthened their interest in signing AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie by launching a bid for the African star, according to Calcio Mercato.
The Hammers are going about bolstering their numbers in key areas as they look to climb clear of danger in the Premier League, and begin the quest for bigger and better things.
David Moyes has had enough time since returning to West Ham to assess what he has, and more importantly with the January window currently open, what he needs to bring to the London Stadium, and has clearly identified the Ivory Coast international as a transfer target.
The 23-year-old is a powerful central midfielder who has been impressing at AC Milan, but the Rossonieri are said to be willing to allow him to leave to fund their own activity this month.
After originally joining the San Siro outfit on loan, Kessie has made just short of 100 appearances for the Italian giants, and has 35 caps for his country, so there is no lack of experience on his part.
Moyes is on the lookout for central midfielders for the Hammers, as injury to Jack Wilshere and the indifferent fitness of Carlos Sanchez at the London Stadium, has left the former Manchester United boss with just Declan Rice and Mark Noble as reliable options to regulate the centre of the park.
With West Ham in the dangerous position they currently occupy in the Premier League table, the last thing they can afford is an injury to one of those two men and be left without cover for what could be a vital run in later in the campaign.
The report suggests a deal for the Ivorian could be a little way off yet however, as it is understood that the bid the Hammers have tabled falls someway short of Milan’s valuation.