West Ham United are battling to sign Norwich City's Gabriel Sara after the midfielder left scouts seriously impressed during recent scouting missions, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: West Ham targeting midfielder

West Ham look almost certain to part with captain Declan Rice in the summer window, with it recently emerging that Arsenal are leading the race, and are willing to pay £80m to secure his signature for next season.

The central midfielder has also been linked with a move to Manchester United, while Manchester City have also been named as potential suitors, and David Moyes has now started to look at replacements.

The Irons have scouted Lille's Carlos Baleba ahead of a potential summer move, and they are well in the mix for Bristol City's Alex Scott, who is being targeted by a whole host of Premier League clubs.

The Latest: Impressed by Sara

According to a report from Football Insider, the Hammers are set to race RB Leipzig and Atletico Madrid for Sara, after conducting regular scouting missions assessing the midfielder so far this season.

Moyes is believed to be keen on bringing in a new option in the engine room, amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Rice and Tomas Soucek.

If they were to move for the Norwich City ace, it is believed that a fee of around £25m - £30m would be enough to prise him away from his current club, but any deal will hinge on West Ham retaining their Premier League status.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Members of the media have hailed the 23-year-old for the way he has 'kicked on' since the departure of Norwich manager Dean Smith, describing his performances as 'exceptional'.

The Brazilian is now on a tally of five goals and four assists in the second tier so far this season, having recorded a total of five goal contributions in his last six outings, including two in his side's recent 3-2 victory away at Millwall.

Sara would not be a like-for-like replacement for Rice, given that the maestro specialises in the attacking side of the game, rarely contributing with tackles and interceptions, while the West Ham captain flourishes in his defensive duties.

However, he would still be an excellent addition to Moyes' squad, as a result of what he offers going forward, and West Ham should continue to monitor his performances in the Championship for the remainder of the season.