According to reports in the Sunday Mirror, West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is interested in signing £100m-rated Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Manchester United.

What's the word, then?

PSG midfielder Marco Verratti in training

Well, the Sunday Mirror says the new Irons boss wants to bring the 25-year-old, who earns €150,000 (around £130,000-a-week) according to Total Sportek, to the London Stadium, but the interest from Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho has come as a big blow to him.

The Portuguese chief wants to make the Italy international his club's marquee signing, although the Sunday Mirror believe he could cost £100m – something that may put him out of Manchester United's price range, and way beyond the reach of West Ham, who have also been linked with a move for Verratti's teammate Javier Pastore.

How did Verratti do during the 2017/18 campaign?

He was once again an influential figure in the middle of the park for PSG.

The 25-year-old is great at keeping the ball and being able to bring it forward as well, and he showed the impact he can make in the final third by scoring two goals and providing a further seven assists in 38 appearances in all competitions throughout the season.

The Italian is also hugely effective from a defensive point of view too as he loves a tackle and an interception, although his tenacious style isn’t always a positive – he was sent off after picking up two bookings in the second leg of the Ligue 1 giants' Champions League last 16 second leg tie against Real Madrid in March.

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Do West Ham have any chance of signing him?

In a word, no, and the whole rumour is ridiculous and will leave Irons fans, who want their new manager to break their club-record transfer fee to sign a 25-year-old midfieder, baffled.

While it is clear that the Hammers board are ready to back Pellegrini, it is impossible to see how they would be able to bring Verratti to east London – especially in terms of transfer fee and convincing the player that it would be a good move.

The signing of the 25-year-old would arguably be the best in the club's history, and while they want to be ambitious this deal is clearly beyond them and would raise early question marks over how realistic Pellegrini is being in his new role.