West Ham United are believed to be keen on a move for Juventus defender Luca Pellegrini, albeit with any possible deal potentially set to come at a cost...

What's the word?

According to Calciomercato Web, the Serie A side are seemingly keen to exploit the Hammers' reported interest in the 23-year-old by making a move of their own for Jarrod Bowen, with the Englishman identified as a potential target by the Old Lady.

Max Allegri's side hope to cash in on their young Italian this summer due to his sporadic role at the Allianz Stadium, with the aim to recoup a fee in the region of €15m (£12.9m) with a sale, or use the left-back as a makeweight in a deal for Bowen.

The latter man has been the subject of interest from the likes of Liverpool this summer - with reports he could command a fee of around £75m - although a bumper new deal at the London Stadium has also been mooted.

Bye-Bye Bowen

In Pellegrini, David Moyes could well be able to find a long-term heir to long-serving full-back Aaron Cresswell, with the £8.1m-rated gem having been described as a "technically gifted" player by Zach Lowy.

Supporters would no doubt be furious, however, were the east London outfit to see their interest in the Rome-born ace - who made just 15 league starts last term - lead to the sale of the aforementioned Bowen, with the 25-year-old seemingly far too important to be allowed to leave.

Since signing from Hull City on a £20m deal in January 2020, the £80k-per-week machine has netted 26 goals and provided 21 assists in 102 games in all competitions, notably chipping in with 12 goals and ten assists in the league last term in what was a real standout campaign.

That form unsurprisingly led to a long-overdue international call-up from Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, with the £37.8m-rated ace going on to feature in all four of his country's recent Nations League games.

A player no doubt on the rise, those of a Hammers persuasion will be desperate to ensure he remains at the club at least a while longer, despite the notable pulling power of a European giant such as Juventus.

For all the talent Pellegrini may possess, it would not be worth pursuing a deal if there was even the slightest chance that it could jeopardise the future of the one-time Hereford man.

Moyes and co won't want to be saying bye-bye to Bowen any time soon.

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