On Wednesday, the Spanish press said West Ham United are interested in Girona’s Arnau Martínez.
Later that day, Mundo Deportivo stated the Hammers have contacted the defender’s agent and could have already made the first offer.
Thursday’s edition of Sport relays previous claims from Spain about West Ham’s pursuit of the 21-year-old and then provides their own take on this case.
The Spain U21 international operates as a right-back but can also be used in the heart of defence. He only made 21 league appearances for the La Liga side last season, with the latter half of the campaign seeing less than the first half.
This didn’t have an impact on the defender, and Girona haven’t had any problems from him so far. Sport say the ‘situation could take a very different turn’ if his playing situation doesn’t improve, also because the Spaniard has less than a year left on his deal.
Taking his current situation into account, West Ham ‘smell blood’ and have ‘gone all out’ to sign Martínez this summer.
The newspaper adds Julen Lopetegui is the main supporter of his compatriot’s arrival at West Ham. The manager is willing to offer him an important role in his new project at the London club.
Sport say it’s down to Girona to ‘study’ the Premier League side’s interest and then make a decision on Martínez’s future.
