West Ham United have struck a deal to bring Joao Mario to the Premier League from Serie A giants Inter Milan.
It appears that Joao Mario is far from convinced about the prospect of swapping Inter Milan for West Ham United in the January transfer window.
Serie A giants Inter need to sell to buy this month and Portugal international Mario, who cost £40 million when signed from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2016, appears to be one of the players the Nerrazzuri are keen to get off their books.
And Sky Sports reported last week that West Ham had made an audacious bid to bring Mario to the London Stadium. Although it is understood that he rejected the move despite his bit-part role at the San Siro since manager Luciano Spalletti took charge in the summer.
It remains to be seen whether the talented play-maker, who played a major role as Portugal won Euro 2016, is more open to a move to Goodison Park instead.
According to FC Inter News, Everton have joined the race for Mario and he could prove a more natural fit in the wide-left position that Gylfi Sigurdsson has struggled to make his own since the start of the season.
However West Ham are not willing to accept defeat just yet. O Jogo state that negotiations with Inter started again over the weekend and it is understood that the Hammers have agreed a deal to sign Mario on loan for about £1.5 million with the option to make a deal permanent for £20 million more.
The player himself, however, is still unsure about a move, so West Ham have enlisted his Portugal teammate Jose Fonte to convince him of a move to England.
If Fonte is as good with his words as he is with his feet, West Ham could beat Everton to Mario’s signature.
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