West Ham United are keen to bring Gerard Deulofeu back to the Premier League from La Liga giants Barcelona.
Gerard Deulofeu could be heading back to the Premier League quicker than expected.
The former Everton winger only left Goodison Park in the summer, when Barcelona triggered the clause to bring the La Masia graduate back to the Camp Nou.
But after struggling for regular game time under Ernesto Valverde, the Spanish international has been linked with a shock return to England, although not via a third spell at Everton.
But the Hammers will have to pay Barcelona £18 million for his signature, according to the Sun (live transfer blog); almost double the fee that the runaway La Liga leaders paid back in the summer.
23-year-old Deulofeu has been attempting to prove his worth at the top level for a number of years but remains an enigma.
He was infrequently brilliant across two spells at Everton, shone during a loan at AC Milan last season and even came off the bench to inspire Spain’s friendly win against France back in March.
However, consistency remains an issue for a player once tipped to emulate Leo Messi at the Camp Nou.
He has made just five La Liga starts this season, managing just one goal and one assist, and is likely to find first team opportunities harder to come by once Ousmane Dembele puts his fitness issues behind him, making a potential move to West Ham all the more enticing.
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