Fresh reports this week have linked West Ham United with an audacious swoop for a World Cup winner...

What's the word?

According to the Express, the Irons are plotting a move for German midfielder Mario Gotze after his contract at Borussia Dortmund came to an end this season.

It's claimed that David Moyes' side have enquired about a potential switch to east London but they face competition from Monaco and AS Roma.

The 28-year-old is valued at £9.45m by Transfermarkt and he wouldn't cost GSB a single penny as he's free to join a new club this summer.

Shades of Wilshere

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago when Gotze slotted home the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina but his career in recent seasons has taken a downward turn.

In 2017, the attacking midfielder was diagnosed with myopathy, which restricted him to just nine starts in the Bundesliga that season and whilst he appeared to bounce back last season with seven goals and seven assists, he was rarely used this term playing just 516 minutes in the league, via WhoScored.

This move would very much have similar feels to that of Jack Wilshere - a player with undoubted talent who hasn't been able to fulfil it in recent times.

From a young age, Gotze was lauded as "the talent of the century" by Matthias Sammer with fellow German legend Franz Beckenbauer labelling him the "German [Lionel] Messi" as per Goal.

Similarly, UCL winner Robert Lewandowski once claimed that any striker would dream of playing alongside him, adding: "His technical skills are incredible."

Yet evidently, there's been a fall from grace and it's not something that the Hammers can afford to take a gamble after they narrowly avoided relegation with just a few games to go.

AND in other news, West Ham may have the perfect Declan Rice successor right under their nose...