West Ham demand £10m for Pedro Obiang as Bologna and Sassuolo chase transfer deal for midfielder

WEST HAM have demanded £10million for midfielder Pedro Obiang amid interest from Italy in a summer transfer.

Obiang, 27, is being chased by Serie A sides Bologna and Sassuolo with his place in Manuel Pellegrini's plans under threat.

The Spanish midfielder was a regular in the Hammers' matchday squad last season but is by no means guaranteed a place in the starting line-up.

And the return from injury of fellow midfielders Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez has seen his chances of forcing his way into Pellegrini's squad damaged still further.

The London club are still hopeful of signing a couple more players this summer to add to the capture of Spanish under-21 playmaker Pablo Fornals.

So they could do with raising some money by offloading a number of their fringe players - and Obiang is seen as expendable after three seasons with the club.

Former club Sampdoria had shown an interest earlier in the close season, but they appear to have switched their attentions elsewhere after a new coaching team was installed at the club.

But Bologna and Sassuolo have both sounded out West Ham to discover if they would be interested in striking a deal for Obiang.

They had indicated a willingness to come up with a loan deal in the first season with a clause to make it permanent after one year.

But West Ham are understood to prefer a straight permanent transfer - with £10m the price they are looking to get.

That would give them extra cash to spend on their own deals, with the search for a new striker becoming a priority as the new season draws near.

Having missed out on Celta Vigo's Maxi Gomez following a month of bargaining, they have now turned their attentions elsewhere with Eintracht Frankfurt's Sebastien Haller a target.

The Hammers are understood to have approached Eintracht over the possibility of a deal for the 25-year-old French forward, who could cost as much as £40m.