West Ham have set their sights on a January move for Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: El Ghazi’s forgettable 2021/22 so far

The 26-year-old has struggled to become a regular under both Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard this season, starting just four Premier League fixtures.

His only league goal came against Newcastle back in August, with reports suggesting that Villa could look to offload the Dutchman in January in an £18m transfer to Roma. However, it seems as if El Ghazi is now a wanted man at the London Stadium.

The Latest: Source shares news

Football Insider shared a story on Saturday morning regarding El Ghazi.

They were informed by a Hammers source that the 6 foot 2 winger is back on their radar, with David Moyes viewing the Netherlands international as a versatile attacking option.

Villa would prefer to listen to permanent offers, although they would also entertain any loan bids.

The Verdict: Time to go?

Reports at the end of November suggested that two of El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet were set to move on this month, so now could be the time to cash in on the former.

Villa podcaster Cole Pettem said last year that ‘a lot of people are complaining that he looked like he put on a lot of weight’, and he hasn’t been as effective as he was in 2020/21, when he plundered 10 league goals.

It doesn’t look like Gerrard fancies El Ghazi as he is yet to hand him a start, so a permanent move away over the coming weeks could be best for all involved.

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