According to reports in the Daily Mail, West Bromwich Albion are ready to reignite their interest in Fenerbahce midfielder Josef de Souza having failed with a £10.6m move during the summer transfer window.

The Daily Mail says that the deal stalled and Baggies boss Tony Pulis instead signed Grzegorz Krychowiak on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, but now he could return for the 28-year-old as he looks to boost his squad in the New Year.

The west Midlands outfit are without a win since August and the pressure is increasing on Pulis, whose side have picked up two Premier League victories this term.

That is a number that can be matched by 18th-placed West Ham United, and new manager David Moyes is another that could be busy during the January transfer window with de Souza an interesting potential addition to a Hammers side that find themselves in a relegation battle.

Here are three reasons the Irons should hijack West Brom's bid to sign the Brazilian…

They need a defensive midfielder

One of West Ham's biggest weaknesses this season has been in the centre of the midfield, and it is probably one of the reasons that previous manager Slaven Bilic was seemingly so keen to sign Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho during the summer.

The likes of Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble simply haven't been good enough at protecting the backline – shown by the fact they have the worst defensive record in the Premier League this term – and with The Mirror already linking the Irons with Carvalho and Bournemouth's Harry Arter in January, it seems that new boss David Moyes has identified this as a problem area too.

De Souza can play in either a central or defensive midfield role – he has featured more prominently in the latter for Fenerbahce during the current campaign though – and he could be exactly what the Hammers are missing in the middle of the park.

His qualities

According to WhoScored.com, de Souza's strengths are his ability to win aerial duels, making blocks and interceptions, winning tackles and his passing – all traits that would ensure that he was success in the middle of the park for West Ham.

The Brazilian is 6ft 2in tall and strong, and he would certainly add some steel to an Irons midfield that has become way too easy to bypass at times this season.

A goal and an assist in 10 Super Lig appearances this term also show that he can have an impact in the final third if required, but Moyes would likely want him to sit and shield the backline if he did bring the 28-year-old to the London Stadium in the New Year.

Price tag

By the time January comes around de Souza will have just 18 months left on his Fenerbahce contract, and that could mean he could be picked up for a reasonable price if the Turkish giants are willing to sell in January.

If reports are to be believed West Brom came close to signing the Brazilian for £10.6m during the summer, and if the Irons could pick him up for something around that fee then it could be a much better deal than targeting William Carvalho again.

The Guardian reported in August that Sporting Lisbon wanted £37.5m for the Portugal international, and that price is unlikely to have dropped between then and January.

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