Report: Hammers linked with Italian defender

Yet another new name has emerged from the European media as being a target for the Hammers.

Italian outlet Gianluca Di Marzio claim claims we are set to go head to head with Marseille  for the services of Sassuolo defender Gian Marco Ferrari.

Having captured  Issa Diop, Lukasz Fabianski and Ryan Fredericks in an attempt to plug his side’s leaky defence, Pellegrini remains unconvinced his work is done at the back.

Twenty-six-year old Ferrari, however, seems more of a silly season link than a serious option given that he spent last season on-loan with Sampdoria where he made 31 appearances.

His club Sassuolo we ready to make the deal permanent but Sampdoria have shown no interest in exercising that option.

That probably tells us more than the report itself given the player has failed to make a single Serie A appearance in the two years since signing for Sassuolo from Crotone, instead spending time on-loan with his former side and Sampdoria.