West Ham’s excellent transfer business in the summer window is set to continue.

The Hammers look well equipped to challenge for a European place following their excellent transfer dealings. Manuel Pellegrini has spent over £85m on new players with the West Ham board eager to avoid another relegation dogfight. Despite their huge expenditure, more players continue to be linked with a move to the London Stadium.

Pellegrini is eager to add a defensive midfielder to his squad before the window slams shut on Thursday. The Chilean sold Cheikou Kouyate to Crystal Palace for £9m and is in desperate need of a replacement. Reports suggest the former Manchester City boss will target Lille midfielder – Thiago Maia – who would be an excellent signing indeed.

Valued at £3.6m by Transfermarkt, Maia was a crucial player for the French side after joining from Santos for £12m last summer. The Brazilian made 34 appearances in Ligue 1 as Lille narrowly avoided relegation. It’s clear that the 21-year-old needs to be surrounded by better players to fulfil his massive potential.

Maia would give Pellegrini the defensive midfielder he is craving. He would add some much-needed steel to the Hammers midfield and allow Jack Wilshere to flourish ahead of him in an advanced playmaker role. Maia averaged 1.6 tackles per game last season but also showed his quality by completing 85% of his passes (WhoScored).

His best years are ahead of him, and the Brazil youth international could become a star under Pellegrini’s tutelage.

West Ham fans, thoughts?