West Ham target Gary Medel could be great fit for Manuel Pellegrini

By Dom Toner

West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Besiktas enforcer Gary Medel ahead of the January transfer window.

According to Sky Sports, the Hammers are keen on the 31-year-old ace that is comfortable in both midfield and both

It is understood that the club’s officials will travel to Turkey to try negotiate a deal with Besiktas in the coming days and manager Manuel Pellegrini wants to wrap up the move quickly ahead of the New Year.

Medel is somewhat of a controversial character renowned for his fierceness on the pitch and is definitely a no-nonsense tackler.

The 116-time capped Chile international is mainly used as a defensive midfielder that protects the back four, but can also be a centre-back despite his small stature.

(Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)

Some may consider Medel a risky addition considering his disciplinary problem, with 19 yellow cards to his name since the start of last season.

His only previous spell too in England was suffering relegation with Cardiff City from the Premier League in the 2013/14 campaign.

But there is no denying the pedigree of the ex-Inter Milan ace and he would add some extra steel to West Ham’s midfield.

He’s definitely got a nasty streak about him and could be a real fan favourite at the London Stadium if given the chance, as he does have quality on the ball to match his aggression and is a risk worth taking.