West Ham plot ambitious bid for "world-class" £380k-p/w gem, he's Moyes' dream upgrade - opinion

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Philippe Coutinho to the London Stadium in the summer transfer window.

That’s according to a report from Spain, which claims that, following his temporary switch to Aston Villa this winter, both West Ham and Arsenal are now interested in a permanent move for the Barcelona forward this summer.

The report goes on to state that, despite Steven Gerrard’s outfit possessing an option to buy the 29-year-old, the LaLiga side are hoping that either West Ham or Arsenal submit a bid that is greater than the agreed clause with Villa.

However, it is also suggested that, should Coutinho continue his fine run of form over the remainder of the current campaign, the Catalans could even look to retain the services of the Brazil international beyond the summer.

While it is true that Manuel Laznini has enjoyed something of a renaissance in the West Ham side of late, with the Argentina international having scored four goals, registered two assists and created two big chances over his 19 Premier League appearances this season, it is undeniable that Coutinho would be a huge upgrade on the player Roy Keane dubbed an “unbelievable” talent.

Indeed, following his move to Aston Villa in the January transfer window, the £380k-per-week forward has been in breathtaking form over his four league outings for Gerrard’s side, having already scored two goals, registered two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.3 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £16.2m-rated dynamo average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.35, ranking him not only as Villa’s best performer in the league but also as the seventh-best player