West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that Samir Nasri will be training with the first-team squad until the end of the year.
The Frenchman is currently serving an 18-month doping ban which comes to an end in December. Contract talks reportedly stalled with the former Manchester City player earlier this month but Pellegrini says he’s hopeful that a deal could be done in January if the midfielder proves his fitness:
“We will see. Samir Nasri is working with us after a long ban. We are giving him a hand to return to football.
“I hope that from now until the end of the year he will be fit and if that is the case we will try to keep him here at West Ham.”
Nasri was spotted in training on Wednesday, and many fans on Twitter are hoping that Declan Rice is given a new deal ahead of the 31-year-old:
Arsenal reject way past his prime
— HotGooneretteChick (@KIIDOU) 21 November 2018
Too many times we have gone for the short term option which has cost us in terms of salary rather than results . Yes we need to strengthen our squad at left back and a genuine striker but Nasri fills neither
— Martin Pedrick (@MartinPedrick) 21 November 2018
Total waste of money .
— D’Arcy (@darcygillet69) 21 November 2018
Nasri WAS good… we need players who are good now…
— Frankie (@FrankieKiddelll) 21 November 2018
He has a point to prove and Pellegrini rates him. If he doesn’t get fit he gets no contract, if he does then we have got a quality player on a free
— Morgan Rees (@MorganRees333) 21 November 2018
If he gets fit, shows he’s still got that little bit about him and doesn’t cause mayhem, then seeing out the season is a good idea. Nothing more though.
— IronsmanJP (@IronsManJP) 21 November 2018
Prioritise, sign Declan Rice up on an extended deal first! ?⚒
— Paul Barnett (@Barnettski5) 21 November 2018
Refusing to pay Declan Rice more than 3k a week while giving an unfit Samir Nasri 80k a week. ?
— Michael Bailey (@mikebailey92) 21 November 2018
Get the boy training, see if he’s fit enough, if he is sign him up till the end of the season. No brainer!
— Ray Flowers (@FlowersRay) 21 November 2018
Worry about what we’ve already got first… @_DeclanRice
— Luke Marley (@LukeMarley8) 21 November 2018
The former France international is reportedly going to be offered £60,000 a week for a six-month contract at the London Stadium if he manages to get into shape.
In stark contrast, the Hammers are reportedly unwilling to give Rice more than £20,000 a week as a basic wage, although after a certain number of appearances, that could rise to £40,000.
The likes of Manchester United and Chelsea are believed to be interested in Rice if he
