West Ham United have reignited their interest in coveted Juventus starlet Matias Soule, according to Tuttosport.
The race to sign the talented youngster is heating up, with the Hammers set to face intense competition from rival European clubs.
West Ham are positioned as front-runners to sign the 21-year-old, with Serie A club AS Roma and Premier League newcomers Leicester City also known admirers.
The Hammers’ superior financial power hands them the advantage, with Juventus demanding around £30 million to sell their prized academy graduate.
The Bianconeri want to cash in on the Argentine forward to bolster their coffers and fund their recruitment drive. However, they have yet to receive an offer that matches their demands.
With West Ham reasserting themselves in the race, Juventus are confident the Hammers have the financial power to match their asking price.
Roma have already seen an initial bid turned down. They’ve improved their proposal to around £23m plus add-ons, but Juventus are holding out for more.
Soule wants to stay in Serie A
West Ham’s interest in Soule is well-documented, and we have the financial backing to match Juventus’ asking price, but the player’s preference is a huge stumbling block.
The Argentine Under-23 international reportedly wants to remain in Serie A this summer and is prioritising a move to Roma.
Soule spent the last season on loan at Frosinone and was in exceptional form for the Serie A newcomers.
The 21-year-old was the lynchpin of a struggling side that were eventually relegated from the Italian top flight, notching 11 goals and three assists in 36 league games.
Soule also created eight big chances and averaged 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes. He finished the season as the most consistent player on Frosinone’s roster, and we could use a player of such quality.
Tuttosport reports that we’re preparing a £30m bid, but convincing Soule to ditch Serie A for the Premier League would be complicated, considering we cannot offer Champions League football.
However, we should be launching a bid for the winger who can feature anywhere across the frontline. His potential acquisition would be a major coup for us this summer.