West Ham United are already on the lookout for new January targets and have identified Hugi Guillamon as an option, according to 90min. The 22-year-old has been a revelation for Valencia in La Liga this season where he has already picked up three assists while also getting on the scoresheet in the Copa Del Rey. They are impressive numbers for a player who naturally plays as a defensive midfielder or even a centre-half at times, showing his versatility in adapting to various different circumstances.

According to WhoScored.com, Guillamon’s main strength is his set-piece ability where many of his assists have come from but his only weakness is discipline which is something David Moyes will have to quash. The Spaniard is not the only midfielder on the West Ham radar with Eredivisie duo Edson Alvarez and Ibrahim Sangare impressing the club’s scouts so far this season.

Rice replacement

Moyes must be very aware that Declan Rice is not going to be at the club for much longer with the biggest clubs in the world all wanting to sign him at some stage and he is starting to try and get ahead of the potential problem when he leaves. The England international is integral to everything the Irons do in attack and defence so to replace him would require somebody who is equally adept at playing both centrally in midfield and defence.

Guillamon could be that, as could Alvarez from Ajax, 25, but the big hurdle could well be the price tag having just spent a huge amount in the summer to bring in the likes of Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta among others. Further reinforcements are certainly required right now and especially if Rice does leave for a fresh start somewhere else so the club are doing the right thing in getting a move on with the long and tedious scouting process.