West Ham have been linked with a stunning swoop for Joao Mario.
Joao Mario cost Inter a whopping £38 million in 2016 when they bought him from Sporting Lisbon.
At Sporting he was compared to former star Cristiano Ronaldo, but West Ham should have Coutinho in mind with their potential swoop for the 24-year-old.
Coutinho was the last high profile attacker who Inter Milan let leave for the Premier League, selling him for just £8 million to Liverpool. Earlier this month the Reds sold him to Barcelona for a staggering £142 million.
Inter Milan are being more cautious with Joao Mario, only offering a loan deal, but West Ham should be optimistic that a change of club could help him re-discover his best form like Coutinho did at Liverpool.
Joao Mario has made only five Serie A starts this season, but still has three assists to his name.
The right winger is well worth West Ham taking a gamble to sign on loan, and hope he shows enough encouraging signs to sway them into a permanent move.
Inter would not want to sell for a big loss in the summer although may have little option.
West Ham have assets like Javier Hernandez or Jose Fonte who the Italian side could well be interested in, to reduce the price.
Joao Mario is available for a reason; a lack of consistency and falling out with manager Luciano Spalletti have contributed to him falling out of favour.
But with a place in Portugal’s World Cup squad up for grabs, Joao Mario has incentive to be a success if he moves to the Hammers beyond simply a pay day.
He only need to look at Coutinho’s Liverpool success to see that there is life beyond Inter, and the Premier League can give him the platform to live up to his potential.
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