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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that midfielder Pedro Obiang is nearing a departure from the club, per Sky Sports.

What’s he said?

The midfielder joined the club in 2015 but is now closing in on a £7.2m move to Sassuolo, per the report.

Obiang made a total of 29 appearances in all competitions last season and Pellegrini has revealed he is now nearing a departure.

He said: "Probably Pedro will return to Italy. I spoke with him last season. I told him that we need him in the squad and I cannot allow him to go to Italy but if things go well last season he will have the doors open as like every player.

"(If a) good offer (comes in) and the player wants to go - not a problem, we will replace him."

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Precious little cash

Football FanCast sources have confirmed that the club really do not have a lot of money.

And receiving just £7.2m for a midfielder who has made over 100 appearances for the club feels ever so slightly cheap.

As it is, the Hammers are heading into the season with Mark Noble, Declan Rice, Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez as their midfield options.

One feels that more depth is needed, particularly with the injury histories of both Wilshere and Sanchez, but banking under £10m is not going to get them anywhere.

The club should have demanded a higher fee for Obiang if they truly intended to replace him; right now, they may well be scrabbling around under the sofa cushions looking for some extra change to fund any move for an alternative.