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West Ham can sign Rice 2.0 in Locatelli

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West Ham can sign Rice 2.0 in Locatelli

West Ham are reportedly interested by signing Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli in January and the Italian might be David Moyes’ subsequent Declan Rice on the London Stadium.

Reports from Italy over the past month have claimed that each the Hammers and Arsenal are eager on bringing the Italy worldwide to the Premier League within the winter switch window.

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The report means that any transfer for the midfielder is prone to value round €40m (£35m), with an exit seemingly on the playing cards regardless of his spectacular type for Max Allegri’s facet thus far this marketing campaign.

The 24-year-old maestro has made 11 appearances in Serie A this season and averaged a really robust 6.96 score from WhoScored for his performances, which ranks him because the sixth-best performer within the Outdated Woman’s squad.

If he had been to provide the identical degree of efficiency in West Ham’s squad, then he can be ranked as their joint-best participant alongside Rice from the present marketing campaign, which emphasises the standard that he may add to Moyes’ facet.

Ought to West Ham signal Locatelli?

The previous Sassuolo man has additionally been a key man for Italy in recent times, starring of their European Championships win in 2021 and of their Nations League marketing campaign final 12 months, with the midfielder scoring twice within the former. That has led him to earn a whole lot of reward from BBC contributor Raj Chohan.

He said: “Italy performed Locatelli on the base as an alternative of Jorginho vs Belgium within the Nations League third-place playoff and seemed unreal. He’s bought far more line-breaking passes in his locker.”

In keeping with FBRef, probably the most comparable participant from Europe’s high leagues to Locatelli when it comes to type of play is coincidentally West Ham’s personal membership captain.

The 2 midfielders have averaged extraordinarily comparable numbers in regard to pictures heading in the right direction per 90 (0.30 vs 0.27), quick cross completion (89.9% vs 90%) and goal-creating actions per 90 (each 0.20).

Crucially, in addition they win again possession at an identical charge, with that being a trait synonymous with Rice. Locatelli has received 1.02 tackles per 90 minutes in comparison with the Hammers talisman’s 1.07.

WhoScored additional means that each Rice and Locatelli excel at passing and blocking the ball, so they’re clearly very comparable gamers in the midst of the park.

The previous has already established himself as top-of-the-line younger midfielders within the Premier League, so including one other participant of that ilk in Locatelli would absolutely be transfer by West Ham. GSB ought to positively look to deliver the Italian in after the World Cup.