David Moyes could be looking to bolster West Ham's wide areas in the upcoming winter transfer window...

What's the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Hammers are among several clubs interested in signing Juventus left-back Luca Pellegrini, who has been made available for transfer this January.

They will face competition from Serie A outfit Sampdoria as the 22-year-old has slipped down the pecking order at the Allianz Stadium.

Pellegrini has been forced out on loan twice since joining the Italian giants in a €22m (£18.8m) deal from AS Roma in June 2019 but is now behind the likes of Alex Sandro and Mattia De Sciglio.

It remains to be seen what sort of offer Juventus would accept for the out-of-favour defender, though he's currently valued at just £8.1m by Transfermarkt.

Cresswell successor

Moyes currently lacks serious and reliable depth at full-back, and with 31-year-old Aaron Cresswell soon to be entering the twilight years of his career at the London Stadium, a long-term replacement does need to be found.

Arthur Masuaku, 27, and his persistent injury problems means he cannot be trusted to take the reins one day, but in Pellegrini, the Irons could well find the ideal man.

Cresswell is one of West Ham's most important players, particularly in attack. He ended the 2020/21 season with more Premier League assists (eight) than any of his team-mates.

This was also the most of any other defender in the top-flight last term, including Vladimir Coufal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Lucas Digne (seven each).

The Juventus outcast may be a left-back by trade but he has previously been utilised as an offensive-minded central midfielder, so that only bodes well for his chances of filling Cresswell's creative void in the final third.

Named in UEFA's '50 players for the future' in 2019, the Italy international has struggled for game time in Turin, playing only 57 minutes this term. However, when he was given a proper run in a team - on loan to Cagliari in 2019/20 - he managed to provide five assists, as per WhoScored.

In the past, Pellegrini has been described as a "very promising, technically gifted fullback" by journalist Zach Lowry, so maybe a fresh start under Moyes is exactly what he needs to reboot his career.

The 5 foot 10 dynamo could be an ideal fit in the current system, and a couple more seasons under Cresswell could see him one day take his throne.

AND in other news, Forget Rice: £50k-p/w West Ham beast who had 96 touches was Moyes' unsung hero vs Wien...