£25m required for midfielder – you must be joking!

Inter Milan want £25 million to make for Joao Mario’s loan to West Ham permanent.

Despite the midfielder experiencing a very modest spell at the London Stadium, the Italian outfit are unmoved in their requirement should the Hammers get into negotiations for the player.

However, that is not on with one source declaring: “He’s not done enough to demand that sort of fee.”

There had been speculation that Inter had reduced their fee to around £12 million amongst quotes from Mario telling how tricky it had been to settle in the Premier League.

He scored a great goal and produced a fine performance against Southampton but failed to show up again in the match against Chelsea and was seen walking back to his defensive position during the game.

Manager David Moyes intends to beef up midfield in the summer but Mario is not in his mind as becoming a permanent signing either at £25 million or indeed £12 million.