According to reports in Portuguese media outlet O Jogo, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United are both keen on signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia before the January transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

The 26-year-old only joined Sporting from Portuguese rivals Braga in the summer, but he has already become a key player for them and according to O Jogo, the Baggies and the Irons have already offered €20m (approximately £17.3m) for the player.

However, the report says that the Portuguese outfit ideally want €30m (approximately £26.5m) if they are to sell the Argentine midfielder, although it says they could also be willing to settle for an offer of €25m (approximately £22m).

Meanwhile, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez will be keen to strengthen his squad and may also be in the market for a new midfielder with The Express reporting that Jonjo Shelvey is closing in on a £12m move to West Ham.

The Spanish boss will certainly want to sign a replacement for the former Liverpool man before he potentially lets him join a relegation rival, and bringing Battaglia to St James' Park could prove to be a shrewd move.

Here are three reasons Newcastle must hijack West Brom's bid to sign the 26-year-old if West Ham buy Shelvey…

He would be a quality Shelvey replacement

While Newcastle may be willing to let Shelvey leave because of his lack of discipline on the pitch and the fact that he is reportedly keen to move back to London, Benitez will know that he needs to find a quality replacement first.

At 26 years of age and with experience of playing at the top level in Portugal and in the Champions League for Sporting this season, Battaglia certainly has the ability to be a big player for the Tyneside outfit in the second-half of the campaign.

His statistics

According to WhoScored.com, Battaglia's strengths are his concentration and his dribbling ability, and he certainly has some impressive stats so far this season.

Usually played as a central or defensive midfielder, the 26-year-old has won 47 of the 73 tackles he has attempted in 23 appearances in Liga NOS and the Champions League, while he has made 17 interceptions, 25 clearances and 29 blocks.

He is also calm in possession and has good quality on the ball, and the Argentine has successfully completed 14 of the 22 dribbles he has attempted.

He wants to play in England

According to O Jogo, the 26-year-old midfielder dreams of playing in England and that can only be a good thing for whichever club signs him.

If he did arrive at St James' Park before the end of the month he would be doing everything in his power to prove that he can be a success in the Premier League, and to try and help the Magpies stay away from a relegation battle.

That commitment, desire and motivation to do well could prove to be a huge positive, and he may even be more influential than Shelvey has been for the Tyneside outfit so far this season.

Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.