Manuel Pellegrini tells Chilean newspaper he’s tried to sign midfielder for West Ham

When Manuel Pellegrini took over at West Ham, the club immediately started being linked with Chilean footballers.

The manager is a big figure in his home country and has a record of signing compatriots, so it made some sense. Gary Medel is probably the player who has been most linked out of the possibilities, although he’s remained in Turkey for now.

Pellegrini has been speaking to El Mercurio for their Sabado magazine, and was asked about signings Chileans.

His answer revealed a West Ham transfer attempt which ended in disappointment.

“I will not talk about conversations, but I can tell you that I would have loved to have many Chilean players who have been figures worldwide,” explained the Hammers boss. “In the past I took several: Salas, Rojas, Matías Fernández, Iturra, Moras; I have taken 7 or 8 Chilean players. I tried to take Aránguiz to West Ham, but he did not want to.”

Charles Aránguiz is a 30 year old midfielder currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

He certainly hasn’t been the subject of strong West Ham transfer claims, but if the plan ended after a chat with Pellegrini then the rumours probably didn’t have time to get going.

Aránguiz was linked with a move to Leicester City before he moved to Germany.