West Ham are eyeing a shock loan move for Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini in January, according to London Evening Standard.
With growing injury concerns surrounding a number of key players and a hugely disappointing start to the 16/17 Premier League campaign, Slaven Bilic is expected use the January transfer window to reinforce his squad.
Just one point separates the Hammers from the relegation zone after 14 games and it is widely perceived that if Bilic does not strengthen in January, he will either be out of a job or the Hammers could face the very real, yet devastating, prospect of relegation to the Championship.
Fellaini is having a torrid time of it under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United this season, with the Belgium international seemingly ending his chances of winning the trust of the fans by conceding a late penalty against former club Everton just minutes after coming off the bench at the weekend, costing United all three points in the process.
The report in the Standard claims United are not convinced by Fellaini’s ability to represent a club of its stature and could sanction a loan move away from Old Trafford in the New Year.
Fellaini could be well suited to West Ham’s survival push. The no-nonsense midfielder offers a physicality and strength, both as a central midfielder or even as a lone-striker, and his goal-scoring form for Everton a few seasons ago had initially convinced United to sign him.
With the Hammers short of goals and personnel, a short-term loan deal for the 29-year-old might just be what gives them the spark they need to pull away from the drop zone, particularly as he has bags of Premier League experience under his belt.
Fellaini is valued at £12.75m by Transfermarkt.com.