West Ham have bolstered their defence already this summer with the capture of Ryan Fredericks from Fulham but Manuel Pellegrini is eyeing additional recruits.
The Hammers have been widely linked with the services of Barcelona defender Marlon Santos, who has impressed during spells on-loan with Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.
SportWitness cites claims from Spain that indicate Barcelona will cancel the Brazil ace’s loan stint in France in order to sell the South American on a permanent basis, adding a deal is ‘very close’ to completion.
An agreement worth between €15-18million looks likely to go ahead, with Marlon Santos potentially partnering Republic of Ireland international Declan Rice at the heart of the Hammers defence.
Just 22-years-old, Santos’ arrival could help West Ham build a defensive line for the future and he will be aided by the experience that Pellegrini’s side have in other areas of the field, including Pablo Zabaleta on the right and Mark Noble in midfield.
