West Ham United are keen on signing defensive midfielder Erick Pulgar from Bologna, it has been claimed.
Manuel Pellegrini wants to sign the Chile international to replace young defensive midfielder Declan Rice, if the England international does leave the club in the future, as per Canal de Futbol.
West Ham United have made two big-money signings following the end of the 2018-19 season, bringing Pablo Fornals and Sébastien Haller, to push further up the Premier League table and compete with the big boys, and will need a deep squad to do so.
Erick Pulgar – Profile
Pulgar joined the Italian team in 2015, and has gone on to make over a hundred appearances for the club in four seasons. His contract with Bologna expires in 2022, having signed an extension to his contract earlier this year.
The Chilean made 30 appearances for his club in the 2018-19 season, scoring 6 goals and making 3 assists in the season.
The 25-year old has also played 22 times for his country, appearing 6 times in the recently concluded Copa America tournament, where they finished fourth.
What will Pulgar add to West Ham?
Pulgar is an all-round player who can do more than one thing well on the football pitch. A good tackler, Pulgar averaged 2.3 successful tackles in the 2018-19 season, while averaging 1.8 interceptions per game.
The 25-year-old defensive midfielder can offer protection to the back four, while also trying to dispossess the opposition when his team do not have the ball.
The Chilean is also a neat passer of the ball, who is always looking to be involved in the match, and averaged 51.4 passes a game last season, completing 83.9% of all his passes.
Pulgar can play the ball long or short, while also looking to thread through balls to the strikers of his team.
The Bologna man is also good in the air in both boxes, while he is also very useful delivering balls from set-pieces, which could be a useful addition to the West Ham team.
A midfielder who likes to be involved in the game at all times, Pulgar would be a brilliant addition to the West Ham United midfield, which looked off-colour at times last season.
Captain Mark Noble and Carlos Sanchez are 32 and 33 years of age respectively, so the Hammers need some young legs in the squad to ensure they don’t drop the intensity during the more hectic weeks.