West Ham fans were excited by the prospect of seeing Euro 2016 winner Joao Mario turn out in claret and blue over the second half of the season following his loan move from Inter Milan but it appears as if his stay won’t last beyond May.
The 25-year-old signed for Inter for a reported £36m back in August 2016 but failed to settle at the San Siro, resulting in his being farmed out on loan to the Hammers during the January transfer window.
Mario has impressed for the Hammers in his five appearances to date, with fans applauding his all-action approach to midfield play and getting involved in all facets of the game.
Inter are ready to offload Mario in the summer for the right price, and that price stands at £38m which is well outside West Ham’s price-range for making the Portuguese midfielder’s loan move permanent, so says the Daily Express.
West Ham broke their transfer record last summer when they signings Marko Arnautovic from Stoke in a deal worth a potential £25m and any move to sign Mario on a permanent basis would blow that fee out of the water and set a precedent of spending never before seen in East London. Unless Inter significantly reduces their demands, it doesn’t appear as if a deal can be struck.
Central midfield additions remain a priority for David Moyes and West Ham in the summer with both Leander Dendocker of Anderlecht and Bournemouth’s Harry Arter, two players that were targeted in January, supposedly back on the club’s shortlist.
