Should West Ham try for Darmian?

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Should West Ham go in for him if he is deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United?

It was reported by Tuttosport last week that Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was willing to offload Matteo Darmian, last summer’s £14 million signing by Louis van Gaal.

He does not seem to be the man to fix the Red Devils’ right-back problems – but could he solve the same issue at West Ham United?

With Carl Jenkinson back at parent club Arsenal and James Tomkins heavily linked with a move away, Irons boss Slaven Bilic is short on options – not that either of those were the long-term answer.

Michail Antonio was used there toward the end of last season but, again, do West Ham fans want to see him wasted there in the long term?

If the Hammers want to kick on from their brush with Champions League qualification last season, they need a recognised, established right-back in there – and Darmian may fit the bill.

Despite a very promising start to life with the Red Devils, the 26-year-old Italy international faded throughout the course of an overall disappointing first season at Old Trafford.

But the talent is there – it was very evident early on – and Bilic is perhaps as good of a man-manager as there is in the Premier League at the moment. It is not inconceivable to suggest the Croat could help Darmian get his groove back.

Darmian will have seen the way in which his former Torino team-mate Angelo Ogbonna has excelled under Bilic at West Ham to know that East London may represent a beacon of hope before he is written off as an English football flop.

Ogbonna, whom Darmian called a “friend” during an interview with MUTV in March, could well act as a mediator to help facilitate the deal, if West Ham were indeed keen to make it happen.

But there are interested parties, according to reports.

The Sun claimed that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants to take him to Stamford Bridge, but only a holiday with Arsene Wenger would gazump selling to a Premier League title rival in a list of things Mourinho is most reluctant to do, while Tuttosport have reported that Juventus are keen admirers of him.

There is indeed competition for his signature it seems, but West Ham is a very exciting project at the moment and Bilic should try bring Darmian to the party.