Virals: West Ham have 'initiated' contact to sign Gerard Deulofeu

West Ham have reportedly ‘initiated’ contact to sign Udinese attacking midfielder Gerard Deulofeu.

The Hammers are believed to be keen on signing the 27-year-old in the summer transfer window and are already actively pursuing negotiations.

Signed by the Serie A club from Watford for €17million (£14million) in January 2021, Deulofeu has been in superb form this season.

According to a report from Calciomercato, as cited by Sport Witness on Twitter, the Hammers have stepped up their interest in the Spaniard.

Gerard Deulofeu | Club await ‘first formal offer’ from West Ham – Hammers have made first contact over summer signinghttps://t.co/8wuXmEfEFE #whufc #coyi

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) March 9, 2022

The report claims that Udinese are now awaiting the ‘first formal offer’ from West Ham for the four-cap Spain ace.

So far this term Deulofeu – described as an ‘artist’ by Roberto Martinez – has scored eight times and provided two assists in 23 league outings.

Valued at £9million and under contract until 2024 in Italy (Transfermarkt), signing the forward for the mooted €20million (£17million) would be a smart capture.

Whilst adding Deulofeu to the ranks would be an undoubted boost in terms of quality, positionally it’s hard to envisage where David Moyes fits the former Barcelona star in.

Already boasting Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, Nikola Vlasic, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini in the attacking midfield and winger department, despite the undoubted ability, the money could perhaps be better spent elsewhere in the squad.