West Ham’s bid for Inter Milan Joao Mario has been blocked.
Sky Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has reported on his official website that West Ham United have failed in a bid to sign Inter Milan winger Joao Mario, so should they target his San Siro teammate?
The report claims 24-year-old Mario has turned the Hammers down in what would have been a loan move to the London Stadium, as he remains on the fringes at Inter Milan with just five Serie A starts this season.
The Hammers are yet to make a signing this month but David Moyes will want the Hammers to bring in a handful of fresh faces before the deadline on January 31 at 11pm.
With Portugal international Mario now seemingly out of the picture, Moyes should target another Inter player in order to provide the creativity from out wide that he so desperately craves.
It should see him target Italy international Antonio Candreva, who was replaced by Mario in Inter’s last game during a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina earlier this month.
Candreva, 30, is known for his blistering pace and the ability to reach the byline and provide an inch-perfect cross for his teammates to attack. It has seen him supply Mauro Icardi with plenty of ammunition this season.
Making 20 Serie A appearances this term, the 52-time cap has provided a huge eight assists, making him one of the most creative players in Inter’s side and that would surely see him single handedly bring the best out of Andy Carroll.
Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Carroll feeds off crosses into the box and that is Candreva’s best asset, whipping deadly balls into an opposition box.
Although the former Juventus star would cost a hefty amount, he is surely worth considering as he would not only improve the Hammers in terms of his quality – but would also bring the best out of England target man Carroll.
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