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Report: West Ham nearing £25m Pablo Fornals signing

Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images
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West Ham United are reportedly closing in on Pablo Fornals.

Pablo Fornals of Villarreal CF during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Eibar at Estadio de la Ceramica on May 12, 2019 in Vila-real, Spain

According to Sky Sports, West Ham United are now close to signing Villarreal playmaker Pablo Fornals in a deal worth around £25million.

The Hammers are looking for a technically-gifted, creative midfield player to aid hard-working duo Mark Noble and Declan Rice, with a host of names linked over the last week.

Fornals has emerged in recent days, and it’s now believed that West Ham are close to striking a £25million deal, just shy of the £31million Villarreal had wanted.

The 23-year-old represents an exciting signing for West Ham if the deal goes through, even if last season’s record of five goals and six assists in all competitions last season doesn’t look that impressive.

Fornals is technically gifted and creative, whilst he’s also dangerous from long range and can play centrally, out wide or as a number 10 thanks to his great versatility.

That’s the kind of signing West Ham are looking for, easing the creative burden on Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini, and the price tag is reasonable too.

Pablo Fornals of Villarreal CF looks on during the La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Villarreal CF at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on August 26, 2018 in Seville, Spain.

Fornals may well know the chief decision makers at the London Stadium, having spent time in the Villarreal ranks when Manuel Pellegrini was there, and then followed Pellegrini to Malaga in 2012.

Mario Husillos, West Ham’s director of football, worked with Fornals at Malaga too, meaning a move may well be appealing to the Spanish playmaker, who has been linked with huge clubs during his time with Villarreal.

Manuel Pellegrini  of West Ham United during Training at Rush Green on August 23, 2018 in Romford, England.