West Ham could pull off stunning deal by activating Fabian Ruiz’s release clause

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West Ham United need more creativity in their midfield.

West Ham United should look to add more creativity in their midfield this summer, and Real Betis star Fabian Ruiz should top their summer transfer list considering his available price.

The Hammers have endured a tough campaign this season, replacing the sacked Slaven Bilic with David Moyes and spending the past few months nervously looking over their shoulder.

Their recent 3-0 victory over Southampton has put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three, but ultimately such a victory has only papered over the cracks and they need the summer to come around quickly.

West Ham, especially since moving in to their new stadium, should be looking to push towards the top six in a similar way that Tottenham Hotspur managed to bridge the gap on those above them.

To do so they ought to follow Spurs’ lead in signing young players with huge potential, and one player who is available for a fee way below his true transfer value is Betis ace Fabian Ruiz.

According to Marca, the talented midfielder has a release clause of 30 million euros (roughly £26 million) and surely such a figure is only likely to prompt Europe’s biggest clubs to take a look this summer.

The 22-year-old has arguably been the breakout star in La Liga this season, prompting interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid as well as Premier League rivals Tottenham, according to AS.

But the very elite clubs may be a step too far for Ruiz right now, and a team of West Ham’s stature could on the contrary be perfect for the midfielder as only regular game-time will see him continue to develop.

Ruiz has started 22 La Liga games for Betis this season, scoring twice and grabbing a further six assists.

The Hammers lack creativity in midfield, with an overreliance on Manuel Lanzini to provide the spark which has subsequently seen the Argentine become a marked man this term.

West Ham have netted 39 league goals this season, while averaging just 9.6 shots per game. Signing Ruiz could solve a big dilemma for them this summer, and it would be a deal which would make others stand up and notice.