West Ham United have reportedly had an offer accepted for the Lille midfielder.
These must be exciting times to be a West Ham fan, with Manuel Pellegrini beginning his tenure in charge of the club in earnest, bringing in a whole host of new signings.
Thiago Maia is the latest name to be linked with a move to the London Stadium, with the Sun reporting that the Hammers have agreed a £20 million fee with Lille for the Brazilian’s services.
The east London outfit really do look like a serious team this season, and the prospect of having Maia lined up alongside Jack Wilshere and Mark Noble in the heart of their midfield should be a tantalising one for West Ham fans.
Whilst Noble’s powers are arguably already on the decline, he is still a vital player for the Hammers, and his leadership skills will always be vital to Pellegrini’s side.
Wilshere, meanwhile, is expected to add a certain level of creativity and guile to West Ham’s play through the middle of the park.
Maia is the perfect compliment to both players.
He mostly operates as a deep-lying, ball-winning midfielder, and plays with a certain kind of tenacity that has become systematic with South American players.
The 21-year-old will also help inject a much-need level of youth and vigour to the east London outfit’s engine room, and if Pellegrini does manage to bring him to the London Stadium, it could turn out to be a signing of real significance for the club.
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