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West Ham make bid for player Lionel Messi has called ‘important’

Giuseppe Labellarte

Tue 28 January 2025 21:50, UK Updated Tue 28 January 2025 23:29, UK

West Ham United were busy in the summer transfer window but they’re yet to get anyone on board in the January market.

The Hammers have been linke🍃d with a host of forwards in recent weeks as Graham Potter looks to bolster his new team’s front line🅠.

For instance, Dean Jones recently reported that Taiwo Awoniyi, Andre Silva and Evan Ferguso💧n are all potential🦹 options for West Ham.

However, a report from Spain has now claimed that West Ham have made a bid for a midfielder deemed “important” by Lionel Messi.

West Ham try their luck with Rodrigo De Paul bid

The player in question is Atletico Madrid midfielder and Argentina star Rodrigo De Paul, who won the World Cup with his nation in 2022.

According to , the ඣHammers have made a €25million (£21million) proposal for De Paul, who is in the last 18 months of his contract in Madrid.

And though Atletico 🏅have rejected West Ham’s bid, the report claims a big offer from a ‘Premier League giant’ – or Saudi Arabia – could make h🌠im change his tune.

Atletico aren’t willing to lose De Paul mid-season, but they’ll repor⛄tedly revisit his situation in the summer if he doesn’t sign a new contract.

However, the repo🍃rt says they’re optimistic he will put pen to paper in the coming months.

What De Paul has said about his future amid West Ham links

De Paul is a top player who Argen💦tina teammate Lio💞nel Messi has previously described as “important”.

He would be an experienced, high-qual𒉰ity addition to a West Ham team currently struggling in the lower reaches of the Premier League table.

However, not only do Atleticꦬo not want to lose De Paul mid-season, but the player himself is happy to stay put for the time being.

“I always think about short-term goals,” he told the media ahead of Atlet🎶ico’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig﷽, as per .

“It would be a mistake to think beyond tomorrow’s game. We want to c🌺ompete in all competitions. The energy and my head is set on tomorrow.

“I think I hav🅘e always felt and they have made me feel an important 🎶part of the team. In the groups, everyone has a role and they try to fulfil it.

“I have never settled in my career and I’m not 🐻goin😼g to. I feel comfortable and happy.

“When the work and the people value you it feels satisfying, but the most important thing is how Atleti is doing – and we are doing very well.🍃”

West Ham could potentially try their luck again in the summer, but for now, it 🌊looks 🅰as though De Paul will be staying in the Spanish capital.