David Moyes must urge West Ham United to sign Matias Vecino in the January transfer window amid rumoured interest in the Inter Milan midfielder.

What’s the word?

According to Calciomercato, the Hammers have offered Vecino a move away from the San Siro as the east London outfit look to improve Moyes’ midfield unit in the winter market.

Aston Villa are also keen to sign the Uruguayan, who has been deemed unsuited to Antonio Conte’s tactics at the Serie A heavyweights as the Italian strives to end the Nerazzurri’s 11-year wait for a 19th top-flight title.

Vecino is yet to feature for a single minute across all competitions this season after knee surgery in the summer, and is likely to fall further down Conte’s pecking order with the former Chelsea head coach now eying replacements.

The 29-year-old is believed to be nearing a return to full fitness, after which he intends to force his way back into Conte’s plans despite being offered to SSC Napoli in the off-season after a potential move to Everton fell through last winter.

Chelsea were also linked with a £23m deal to sign Vecino earlier this year, while Manchester United saw a loan approach rejected in January after targeting the 41-cap international as a short-term stop-gap following injuries to Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba.

Farwell Noble, hello Vecino

Vecino still seeing his future at the San Siro could prove problematic in the upcoming January window should Moyes urge David Sullivan to open his chequebook, but West Ham would acquire a deep-lying playmaker blessed with a “terrific range of passing” should a deal go through.

The Uruguayan has all the capabilities of replacing Mark Noble in the Hammers’ first-team fold with the 33-year-old’s £50,000-per-week contract due to expire in the summer, and showing no signs of deserving renewed terms with his recent performances at the London Stadium.

Vecino made 20 appearances in the Serie A last season before seeing his campaign called short through injury, in which the 6 ft 1 brute offered a box-to-box threat with two goals and two assists from 1.1 shots and 0.8 key balls a game, per SofaScore.

He also missed four big chances to find the back of the net, made 0.3 successful dribbles with a 71% success rate, and helped defensively with 1.6 successful tackles, 1.3 clearances and 0.8 interceptions while never committing an error that led to a shot or goal.

Moyes could benefit well from a player with Vecino’s ability and experience with Noble struggling to influence proceedings, leaving 21-year-old Declan Rice and 25-year-old Tomas Soucek to play all 1,350 minutes of West Ham’s Premier League campaign thus far.

AND in other news, a West Ham gem who’s “not been at the races” betrayed David Moyes vs Brighton.