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West Ham: Irons conduct Carlos Baleba scouting mission
West Ham United have conducted a scouting mission to assess Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba ahead of a potential transfer swoop, according to a report.
The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing midfielder
Declan Rice could well leave the London Stadium this summer, with it recently being reported that Manchester United are now set to push Arsenal for his signature.
As such, David Moyes has started looking at potential replacements for the Englishman, and Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is one player being linked with a move, while Bristol City’s Alex Scott is a potential younger option.
The Latest: Baleba scouted
According to a report from 90min, the Hammers have also scouted Baleba in recent months, with a view to lodging a potential transfer bid.
However, West Ham will face stiff competition for the midfielder’s signature, given that the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are also believed to be interested.
The Verdict: Get it done?
Hailed as ‘brilliant’ by journalist Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old is at the right age to be a long-term heir for Rice, and he has already started to force his way into the Lille team, having made 14 first-team appearances in all competitions this season.
It has been a real breakthrough season for the starlet, however, he has mainly been limited to cameo appearances off the bench, and he is yet to prove himself as a consistent performer in Ligue 1.
That said, West Ham should undoubtedly continue to monitor his performances for the rest of the season, especially considering the club now appear to be resigned to losing Rice in the summer, and a suitable replacement will be needed.
