Hammers look to bring Manchester born player home

Ahmad Benali could return from Serie A with West Ham said to be interested in his services this summer. The former Manchester City trainee is valued at £3m and has spent the last five years in Italy having scored six times for Pescara this season.

Reports in the Sun yesterday say the midfielder has offers from Atalanta, Bologna and Genoa but would prefer a return to England with West Ham or Southampton his likely destination.

Benali spent 13 years at Manchester City but was released by Roberto Mancini at the young age of twenty.

After leaving Manchester City, he played abroad for the first time when he moved to Italy to join the Serie B club Brescia in the summer of 2012. Benali later reflected on his decision to play in Italy, stating he wanted to prove himself that he was good enough and that Mancini was wrong to release him.

He has a Libyan father and British mother was born in Manchester and describes himself as a Manchester City fan as a kid. He grew up close to Maine road.

Benali originally played for England’s Under 17’s but chose to play for Libya at senior international level, making his debut in 2012.