West Ham: 'Super talented' £30m star 'on the radar' at London Stadium | OneFootball

West Ham United are interested in a move for Sassuolo’s Davide Frattesi at the London Stadium, according to journalist Dean Jones.

With Declan Rice seemingly not willing to commit to a new deal, David Moyes is looking for midfield options elsewhere, and the “super talented” Italian could fit the bill as a replacement for the Hammers.

What is the latest news involving Frattesi?

CalcioMercato outline that the potential transfer fee for any side that wish to sign Frattesi is likely to be around £30m, while also stating that fellow Serie A sides Juventus and AS Roma are believed to be interested in a move.

It is the latter of the two teams that the man himself has expressed an interest in joining, having played in the youth system for Giallorossi, telling Corriere dello Sport that it still remains his “dream” to seal a return to the capital.

Not only would the Hammers have to fight off this sort of interest if they were to seal a move for the 23-year-old, but the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion are all believed to be keeping tabs on the prospect.

Gazzetta dello Sport also detail Moyes maintains an interest, and Jones has delivered an update on whether the move is likely to transpire.

What has Jones said about Frattesi?

Jones believes that the four-time Italy international is of interest to West Ham, but he may not be at their top of the list, as they will want to target a more suitable Declan Rice heir, telling GIVEMESPORT: “Frattesi’s someone that’s on their radar, but to be honest, I think they’re looking for someone more established than that to replace Declan Rice.

“It’s such a big hole that they’re going to need to fill, and they’ve got to convince the fans as well as the players that there’s not going to be a huge drop off when Rice leaves, that’s going to be the big concern.”

Would Frattesi be a good Rice replacement?

Although Frattesi is not at the level of Rice, in truth, no one that Moyes targets is going to be able to completely account for the loss of the Englishman in the centre of midfield, should he not sign a new contract.

That said, the two specialise in different areas, with Rice more well known for his defensive efforts, averaging 1.86 interceptions per 90 minutes over the past year, an amount that puts him in the 94th percentile compared to his positional peers.

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In contrast, his potential replacement is more well-known for his “clever movement” and involvement in the attacking third, being dubbed as “superb” by journalist Henry Winter for the former during the Euro 2020 final against England.

An average of 2.77 touches over 90 minutes in the attacking penalty area places Frattesi in the 93rd percentile, while West Ham’s current option averages just 1.23, so if Moyes is interested in a more attacking midfielder, he is a good option, but he should not be considered a like-for-like replacement.