West Ham United are leading the race to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus, according to Gazzetta.
The Hammers are keen to bring the Brazilian midfielder back to the Premier League, and Juventus are willing to cash in after an underwhelming campaign.
Luiz joined Juventus from Aston Villa last summer in a deal worth around €50 million (£43m). But he struggled to hit the ground running in the Italian top flight.
Juventus only paid €28m (£24m) in cash while sending Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling Junior in the other direction. But they still see Luiz as a valuable asset.
However, he has failed to live up to expectations, and Juventus are ready to cut him loose.
The Serie A giants are demanding around €40m (£34.6m) for Luiz. But they’ve struggled to find interested clubs willing to match that price, so they may be forced to compromise.
West Ham hoping to seal cut-price deal
Gazzetta reports that West Ham are offering a loan deal worth €10m (£8.6m).
They’re also offering an option to make the deal permanent for a further €25-30m (£21.6-£26m) depending on how he performs in East London.
The Bianconeri are still mulling over the proposal, but West Ham are hopeful that their structured offer could eventually win over the Italian giants.
West Ham need a player who can bring some much-needed composure and experience to their midfield as they look to push forward under Graham Potter, and Luiz fits that profile.
It also helps that he has plenty of experience in the English top flight, having made 175 Premier League appearances for Villa.
Other Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation as well. Everton are said to have made enquiries in recent days, joining a list of potential suitors that includes unnamed clubs still weighing their interest.
However, as things stand, West Ham appear the most serious and the most advanced in their pursuit.
A return to the Premier League might be just what Luiz needs to get his career back on track after an ill-fated move to Juventus last summer.
And for West Ham, landing a midfielder of his calibre without breaking the bank could be a smart piece of summer business.