West Ham United have reportedly identified Torino’s industrious midfielder Sasa Lukic as a viable January target to lure to the London Stadium this winter.
As per Tuttosport, Hammers boss David Moyes is singling the 26-year-old out as a top winter target, and with the Torino ace reportedly available for £13m, it is a deal that certainly could cross the finish line - although with increasing interest this figure may start to creep upwards.
With Lukic’s contract with his Italian club is set to expire in the summer of 2024, meaning that unless a renewal can be agreed there will be a desire to cash in on a player that has been an ever-present in the starting line-up since arriving from Partizan Belgrade as a 19-year-old in 2016.
But the hierarchy at the east London outfit will indeed need to act swiftly if they are to take the lead in the race for the Serbian sensation, with Calciomercato claiming that Leicester City, AS Roma and Napoli are all eyeing a move.
Imagine him and Lucas Paqueta
Torino currently sit in ninth place in the Italian top-flight, and Lukic has been integral to the team’s success, recording an average rating of 6.95 and flourishing with his crisp passing and assured presence, serving as a pivot and offering both defensive fortification and attacking flair when an apt opportunity arises.
He is tremendous across a variety of roles, possessing the whole gamut of requisite attributes to prosper in the Premier League.
His particular skill set could merge nicely with that of Lucas Paqueta, who has failed to live up to the £51m price tag thus far, following his move from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer.
Paqueta, a robust and industrious maestro with a keen eye for a forward pass, has recorded an average Premier League rating of 6.93, which is by no means disappointing, but there is a feeling that there is a lot more to offer, and Lukic could aid the rise to the brim of his potential at the London Stadium.
The Brazilian maestro has failed to score for the Hammers, and having clinched 11 goals and seven assists last season in France, here is evidently far more attacking prowess yet to truly be unleashed on English soil.
Lukic could attack as an anchor, an effective counterpoint at the beating heart of the West Ham squad, to entwine with Paqueta's toolkit and form a deadly partnership, with the respective 89% and 81% passing accuracies creating an elite level of control; additionally, journalist Josh Bunting lauded the 35-cap gem as "outstanding" for his work in protecting the defensive players of his side.
With both players sturdy conductors with eyes for goals, indeed Lukic has netted 11 goals for Torino since the start of the 20/21 campaign, the dynamism from the centre could reap rewards for Moyes' dwindling Hammers side, lifting the club away from their lowly 16th place in the Premier League and towards brighter endeavours once again.