Report: West Ham aim to sign Nico Gaitan after Joao Mario swoop

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Premier League duo West Ham and Swansea City will go head-to-head for Atletico Madrid winger Nico Gaitan with the La Liga giants keen to sell.

West Ham United could boast one of the most exciting midfields in the Premier League if all goes to plan between now and next week’s transfer deadline.

The Hammers have completed the intriguing signing of Portuguese international Joao Mario from Inter Milan for the rest of the season. Sky Sports report that they could land the former Sporting Lisbon play-maker on a permanent deal worth £26 million should he find his form again in London.

And Mario might not be the only creative talent arriving at the London Stadium from a bonafide European giant this month.

Because, according to Tuttomercatoweb, West Ham are fighting to follow up the signing of Mario with the addition of Atletico Madrid outcast Nico Gaitan.

The former Benfica winger has struggled to make an impression during 18 months in Spain’s capital and is expected to make a long-awaited move to the Premier League before the end of January.

Everton, Southampton and Watford have been linked but it appears that West Ham’s biggest opponents as things stand are Swansea City.

The Mail states that the struggling Swans will make Gaitan their best paid player by offering £120,000-a-week, although Atletico’s preference is for the Argentine to leave on a permanent basis.

West Ham, then, should leap to the front of the queue if they pay the £18 million Diego Simeone’s side is looking for, as reported by Marca.

And as the Hammers do not have to pay any huge fees for Mario for at least a couple of months, there is still money in the bank to bring in Gaitan in what promises to be a mouth-watering midfield combination.