Daily Star

Pelle to offload Obiang

- By JON WEST

WEST HAM midfielder Pedro Obiang is close to rejoining Sampdoria.

The Italians sold the former Spain Under-21 internatio­nal, 26, to the Hammers for £4m in 2015.

Now he is set to return on loan for £1.8m and then sign permanentl­y for an additional £6.2m at the end of the season.

New West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has allowed Obiang to leave, having brought in former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere to be his key central midfielder alongside captain Mark Noble.

That could also see Cheikhou Kouyate squeezed out, with Crystal Palace keen to offer him the chance to remain in the capital.

Wanted

The 28-year-old Senegal internatio­nal is valued at

£10m.

And Hammers defender Sam Byram is wanted by Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka.

Forest want a right-back before the Championsh­ip kicks off next weekend and Byram, 24, is among Karanka’s targets.

“Sam is one of them,” said the Spaniard. “He is a Premier League player and we need to work differentl­y in different situations.”

Byram joined the Hammers from Leeds in

2016 but has struggled for first-team chances and has fallen further down the pecking order with the signing of Ryan Fredericks.

 ??  ?? ITALIAN JOB: Obiang
ITALIAN JOB: Obiang

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