Nasri is the type of signing West Ham should be looking to move away from

By Sam Preston

West Ham have offered former Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri a six-month contract, according to the Daily Mirror.

They report that the club’s board is willing to grant their manager Manuel Pellegrini’s wish and engineer a reunion with the French midfielder, whom he worked with at the Etihad Stadium, where they won the Premier League title in 2014.

Nasri will reportedly earn £80,000 per week at the London Stadium, although the deal will also be heavily incentivised – it is not quite clear how – to allow West Ham to limit the risks involved.

They will apparently have the opportunity to sign Nasri on a longer term basis if he impresses upon his return from the 18 month ban for doping.

(OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

But there are risks involved with taking a player who has been out of the game for so long, who is the wrong side of 30 and was something of a luxury even during his best years.

Patrice Evra was a similar risk under David Moyes – and that didn’t pay off – and a side with West Ham’s lofty ambitions and spending power should not need to take punts on expensive, ageing players.

If the Hammers have put together a pay-as-you-play package, then it may be smart business. But this feels like a typical West Ham signing, at a time when they should be looking for more.