Report: West Ham battling Sevilla for Fiorentina anchor Erick Pulgar

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Italian outlet Corriere Dello Sport have claimed West Ham United are battling Sevilla to sign Chilean midfielder Erick Pulgar this summer – and could nab the anchoring ace for just £10.5million.

Pulgar, 26, left Serie A side Bologna to join Fiorentina last summer and has since impressed for La Viola. Clocking up 29 appearances this season, the 24-time Chile international has scored four goals and created five more.

Those are impressive stats from the base of the midfield. Little surprise, then, that Pulgar has been thrown on to the shortlists at Sevilla and West Ham ahead of the summer window.

The report stats that West Ham are willing to part with a fee worth £10.5million to sign Pulgar, but Fiorentina are likely to be firm on the player’s asking price with a percentage of any future fee due to go to Bologna.

According to Canal de Futbol, Manuel Pellegrini tried to sign Pulgar last summer.

TBR’s view – West Ham need central midfielders

Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez are expected to leave this summer while loanee Josh Cullen could also depart as he looks set to enter the final year of his current Hammers contract – despite impressing on loan at Charlton.

That would leave the Hammers with just Mark Noble, Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek as recognised central midfield options and an addition is needed. Tiemoue Bakayoko has been linked, but he could cost north of £30million.

Pulgar, then, for just £10.5million, would be a solid signing.