According to reports in the Evening Standard, Inter Milan would prefer to sell midfielder Joao Mario to West Ham United for a permanent £26m fee, with the east London club said to be more interested in another loan deal.

The Portugal international was solid, if unspectacular, having moved to the London Stadium on a temporary basis from the Serie A giants during the January transfer window, but the Euro 2016 winner certainly showed more than a few glimpses of the quality he has in his locker.

The £26m fee would surpass the club-record deal that saw the Irons buy Marko Arnautovic from Stoke City last summer, although it would potentially be a big hit in new manager Manuel Pellegrini's transfer budget as he looks to significantly strengthen his squad.

We asked West Ham supporters to vote on our poll to see whether they thought their club should splash the cash on the 25-year-old, and a huge 79% said they would.

The Irons have also been linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore, who like Joao Mario prefers to play in an attacking midfield role, and it could prove to be one or the other for the east London outfit before the transfer window slams shut on August 9.

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