West Ham United are not ready to meet Inter Milan’s €30m asking price for Joao Mario but talks will continue this week.
Mario, 25, joined the Hammers on loan during the January window, helping the club avoid relegation from the English top flight during an impressive spell in East London.
While the future of manager David Moyes remains uncertain for the time being, West Ham are reportedly eager to bring the Portugal international back to the London Stadium on a permanent deal. However, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.com, they are yet to reach an agreement with Inter over a fee.
According to the publication, the Nerazzurri are demanding €30m for a player who arrived at the San Siro just two summers ago – a figure West Ham are not prepared to match. However, the report adds representatives from both clubs will meet again in the coming days to find a solution – with Mario returning to the Hammers on a season-long loan deal with the obligation to make the deal permanent next summer one possible outcome.
The former Sporting CP star has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the capital in an interview with the club’s official website, with Hammers fans flocking to his recent Instagram posts urging him to return.
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