West Ham ‘ready’ to bid £35m for star who rejected Arsenal move

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West Ham United are reportedly planning a £35 million bid to bring Manuel Locatelli to the Premier League from Serie A giants Juventus. 

Declan Rice might have gone but, after using their £100 million-windfall to invest in the signatures of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, West Ham United’s midfield is arguably stronger than ever in the absence of their talismanic former captain. 

Alvarez and Ward-Prowse have been outstanding so far under David Moyes. The former providing a sheet of defensive steel and the latter whipping in wicked set-pieces at a remarkable rate. 

Manuel Locatelli, however, could be the addition which takes a Rice-less engine room to a whole new level. The perfect foil to Alvarez’s discipline and Ward-Prowse’s intensity, Locatelli’s ability to dictate proceedings, drive forward with the ball and shoot with power from range could see the Italy international emulate the role Rice played to such good effect in claret-and-blue. 

West Ham like Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli

TuttoJuve believe that West Ham are ‘ready to offer’ £35 million. 

Juventus will not let Locatelli go without a fight, however, hoping to tie the Euro 2020 champion down to a new deal. Fortunately for the Old Lady, their former AC Milan and Sassuolo ace appears to be leaning towards extending his stay in Turin rather than seek out a new challenge elsewhere, Roberto de Zerbi’s Brighton having failed to lure him away over the summer. 

“The possibility of leaving was never real. He always wanted to stay at Juventus and never took other destinations into consideration,” Locatelli’s agent, Stefano Castelnovo, tells Tuttosport. 

“There is a desire on both sides to continue together. Then in due time we will try to get this thing (a new contract) done.” 

Italy star wants to stay at Serie A giants

West Ham’s chances look slim, then. But there is no harm in trying, especially considering the high-profile financial issues Juventus have found themselves wrestling with in recent times. 

Juve’s hopes of retaining Locatelli should, however, be boosted by the midfielder’s lifelong adoration for the Bianconeri. Locatelli is a boyhood Juve fan. So much so that he turned down Arsenal’s advances when joining from Sassuolo in 2021.

“I still remember the negotiation (that took him to Juventus). For him it was very long,” said Mattia Locatelli, the 25-year-old’s brother. “There was also Arsenal, but he wanted Juventus.