Obiang set for Italian return

WEST HAM midfielder Pedro Obiang is close to rejoining Sampdoria.

The Italian club sold the former Spain Under-21 international to the Hammers for £4million in 2015.

Now Obiang, right, is set to return on loan for £1.8m and then sign permanently for £6.2m at the end of the season.

New Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini has allowed Obiang to leave having brought in Jack Wilshere to play alongside Mark Noble. That could also see

Cheikhou Kouyate squeezed out, with Crystal Palace keen to take on the £10m-rated midfielder. Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka, meanwhile, has confirmed he is keen on West Ham defender Sam Byram. “Sam is a target,” said the Spaniard. “I have known Sam since he played for Leeds.” Byram joined the Hammers in 2016 but struggled for first-team chances and fell down the pecking order with the summer signing of Ryan Fredericks. NEWCASTLE are on the verge of completing the £9.5million capture of Yoshinori Muto from Bundesliga side Mainz. The Japan forward, 26, has undergone a medical and agreed personal terms. The deal will be concluded once a work permit has been approved for Muto, left, with the Magpies confident there will be no last-minute hitches to derail the deal. ●READING defender Liam Moore has slapped in a transfer request in a bid to force through a move to Brighton, with the Royals holding out for £15million.