West Ham have been keeping tabs on Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone, according to reports in the German media.

It is believed that the Hammers have sent scouts to see the France Under 21 international on more than one occasion this season and they are weighing up a potential offer for the player during the January transfer window.

However, Gladbach are expected to hold out for a sizeable sum for Kone, with it being claimed that the Bundesliga side won’t accept an offer below €45m (£39m). That is more than their current record transfer sale, which is the £35m they received from Arsenal for Granit Xhaka in 2016.

David Moyes’ side may also have competition for the 21-year-old’s signature from other Premier League teams, with both Liverpool and Newcastle said to be monitoring the player’s situation too.

Recruiting a midfielder is a top priority for West Ham, who missed out on Amadou Onana and Matheus Nunes in the summer, so we shall see if a formal approach is made for Kone in the coming weeks.