West Ham United are going head-to-head with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce for former Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez with the Premier League outfit moving in on the Argentina international.
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While closing in on a deal to sign Leeds United talisman Crysencio Summerville for a fee in the region of £25 million – as HITC reported on Wednesday – Julen Lopetegui’s side have also now thrown their hat into the ring for one of the market’s most high-profile free-agents.
Guido Rodriguez officially left La Liga outfit Real Betis when his contract expired on July 1st.
And after a proposed move to Barcelona broke down – terms had been agreed but the Catalonians backed out amid perennial concerns over their Financial situation – Rodriguez remains available for any club looking to bring in a physical and experienced defensive midfielder.
HITC understands that West Ham were not initially in the market for a central midfield player this summer. Lopetegui already has Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Thomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta at his disposal.
But there was always a chance that The Hammers would dip into the midfield market if an opportunity presented itself that they felt was too good to miss.
And such an opportunity appears to have arrived in the shape of Rodriguez.
West Ham United make Guido Rodriguez move
In addition to Barcelona, Europa League winners Atalanta had held talks with the unattached 30-year-old.
It is understood, however, that the race has turned into a straight shootout between West Ham and a Fenerbahce side who recently hired former Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho as their new head coach.
Fener had made the early running – offering Rodriguez a move – but West Ham have now opened talks as they look to hi-jack the deal.
Lopetegui, who came up against the former River Plate enforcer when at the helm of Betis’ fierce rivals Sevilla, is keen to add the Rodriguez to his squad.
A World Cup and two-time Copa America winner, Rodriguez made his name on the other side of the Atlantic with Club America in Mexico. He was named the Liga MX Player of the Year in 2019 before sealing a move to Andalusia a year later.
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During the peak of his ball-winning powers – and despite the £69 million release clause that existed in his contract at the time – Rodriguez was linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool early on in his Betis career.
No one completed more tackles per game than him in the 2021/22 La Liga season.
Should Guido Rodriguez belatedly move to England with West Ham, he would add real experience and depth to an already solid selection of midfielders. Lopetegui likes aggressive players in his engine room and, if they move the ball around neatly, all the better. Rodriguez certainly ticks both of those boxes.
The former Barca target has spent the last few seasons playing under ex-West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Pellegrini, meanwhile, has not ruled out the prospect of Rodriguez making a sensational return to Real Betis. Los Verdiblancos did offer him a new contract before his deal expired a month ago.
“It’s a significant loss, but we have players in that position (to replace Rodriguez),” Pellegrini told Onda Cero. “You should never rule anything out, especially a player who is currently without a team.”
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