West Ham could make a move for Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli next summer, according to Calciomercato.it.

The Italian website have warned Juve to “watch out for” the Hammers, who are looking to replace Tomas Soucek when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Locatelli’s performances have reportedly caught the eye of David Moyes’ side who could make a serious attempt to sign the Italian international.

His asking price is believed to be €40m (£35m), which Calciomercato claim is “not insurmountable” for a team like West Ham.

They don’t give any information regarding whether Locatelli would be interested in a switch to England but his past actions suggest he might not be.

The midfielder rejected a move to Arsenal 2 years ago

Locatelli’s brother has previously revealed that Juve and Arsenal were competing for the player’s signature when he was still at Sassuolo in the summer of 2021.

However, Locatelli made it clear that he “wanted” to join the Bianconeri, rather than make the switch to English football, and he eventually secured a transfer to Turin. It doesn’t bode well for West Ham’s chances of securing his services next year.

What is the latest on Soucek’s West Ham future?

It should be pointed out that, even if Soucek doesn’t sign a new contract between now and the end of June, when his current deal expires, the Irons have a card up their sleeve.

There is an option to extend the Czech international’s stay for an additional 12 months so they can stop the player leaving for nothing in 2024.

For that reason, West Ham’s pursuit of a replacement will be less urgent than Calciomercato claim. However, if Locatelli does become available on the transfer market, it appears the London club would consider making an offer for the 25-year-old.

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