Would West Ham be mad to pay Morgan Schneiderlin’s Everton price-tag?

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Morgan Schneiderlin could be sold by Everton with Premier League rivals West Ham United keen to hand him a fresh start.

Morgan Schneiderlin has not quite looked the same since he left Southampton in the summer of 2015.

The Frenchman did not make much of an impression during 18 months at Manchester United and his first year as an Everton player has not exactly gone to plan either.

As such, the Mail (live transfer blog, 2.19pm) reports that the Toffees could be willing to cash in on Schneiderlin before the month is out, provided they recoup the £24 million they paid in January 2016.

It is understood that West Ham manager David Moyes is now stepping up his interest in the defensive midfielder after missing out on a number of alternative targets. The Hammers will offer £20 million but may have to increase their bid by £4 million to get their man.

But with Leander Dendoncker, Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Allen and Harry Arter all seemingly available for a few million less, would West Ham be simply mad to pay such an extortionate price for a player who has flopped at two Premier League clubs in the last few years?

Much depends on whether Schneiderlin can rediscover the superb form that made him one of the Premier League’s most eminent ball-winners at Southampton and a fully-fledged France international.

Moyes has managed to coax the best out of Marko Arnautovic, Manuel Lanzini and co since being appointed at West Ham and would need to have a similar impact on Schneiderlin’s career if his £24 million price-tag is to be justified.