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Agent claims Pellegrini overruled West Ham decision to sell Obiang this month

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West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang has been linked with a move away.

West Ham United's Pedro Obiang and Birmingham City's Jacques Maghoma during the FA Cup Third Round match between West Ham United and Birmingham City at The London Stadium on January 5,...

The agent of West Ham United midfielder Pedro Obiang has told Tuttomercatoweb that the club had agreed to sell him, before Manuel Pellegrini stepped in and blocked a move.

West Ham may be in the market for additions this month, but much of the speculation of late has been surrounding potential departures from the London Stadium.

The Hammers have seen Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez linked with January exits from the club, as well as midfielder Pedro Obiang.

As reported by Sky Sports, West Ham received a £9million bid from Fiorentina for Obiang, with the Serie A club looking to lure him back to Italy.

Obiang, 26, was made more than 100 appearances for West Ham since Slaven Bilic snapped him up from Sampdoria in 2015.

Obiang has remained a regular under Pellegrini, making 14 Premier League appearances so far this season, and his agent has now discussed the Fiorentina situation.

West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on January 12, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

Agent Guilio Meozzi has told Tuttomercatoweb that West Ham had agreed to sell Obiang for €11million, the amount Fiorentina had offered, but the deal was pulled even after being agreed.

Meozzi claims the ‘president’ – presumably either David Gold or David Sullivan – was convinced into a deal but then took Obiang off the market after Pellegrini felt Fiorentina’s offer wasn’t good enough, overriding the original decision.

“For €11 million West Ham had said that they would relinquish the player, there is no doubt about it,” said Meozzi. “The president took him off the market when the sale of Arnautovic was approaching In fact, the president had been convinced to sell Obiang himself, but it was Pellegrini, who opposed the figure offered by Fiorentina,” he added.

West Ham United's Pedro Obiang and Huddersfield Town's Aaron Mooy during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and West Ham United at John Smith's Stadium on November 10, 2018...