West Ham are exploring the possibility of signing Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, according to reports.
The midfielder has endured an injury-hit season which has restricted him to just 12 appearances, and he travelled to Barcelona this week for treatment on a thigh issue, making him a doubt for the trip to Chelsea on Saturday.
Having already recruited former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri, West Ham are keen to bolster their squad further with the addition of 26-year-old Shelvey, according to the Daily Mail.
Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini is an admirer of the six-cap England international, who currently earns £70,000-a-week.
Rafa Benitez is unlikely to let Shelvey, valued at £20million, leave without a fight unless Newcastle can find an adequate replacement for him.
And with the Tyneside club just two points above the relegation zone, they need as much quality and experience as they can get in order to remain in the Premier League.
Shelvey offers both, having played for Liverpool, Swansea and now Newcastle; he has proven to be capable of dictating play and chipping in with a spectacular goal every now and again.
West Ham have rejected an offer of £35million from an unnamed Chinese Super League side for Marko Arnautovic, but Danijel Arnautovic, the Austria international’s brother and representative, said he wants to leave the London Stadium for a new challenge.
Should Arnautovic depart, it would make signing a creative talent even more of a priority.
