West Ham United could move for Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, who has impressed for France at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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West Ham United have been linked with an audacious swoop for one of the stars of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with the Mail suggesting that Sam Allardyce’s team are set to move for France playmaker Mathieu Valbuena from Olympique Marseille.
The diminutive playmaker, who is one of the shortest players in football, is reported to be available for £8 million as his Ligue 1 club look to raise funds for new manager Marcelo Bielsa, and is also said to be keen on trying his hand in the Premier League.
Valbuena has spent the majority of his career at Marseille, joining from lower league club Limbourne in 2006 and becoming the poster boy of the club during a barren recent spell for the French giants.
Marseille endured a miserable 2013/14 season, being knocked out of the Champions League without gaining a point in the group stage and failing to qualify for any continental competition for next season.
Valbuena had his poorest season at club level in some time and the suggestion seems to be that moving on may be the best option for both parties, particularly with his impressive displays for Les Bleus keeping a potential fee relatively high.
Signing Valbuena would be indicative of the change in approach that West Ham are set to take after fans grew disenfranchised with the direct and physical approach of manager Sam Allardyce.
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