Tuesday 23 July 2019 16:09, UK
West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang is close to completing a move to Sassuolo for £7.2m plus bonuses, according to Sky Italy.
The 27-year-old is expected to arrive in Italy to finalise the transfer in the coming days.
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini believes it is likely Obiang will return to Italy following four seasons with the Hammers after joining from Sampdoria in 2015.
Pellgrini said: "Probably Pedro will return to Italy. I spoke with him last season. I told him that we need him in the squad and I cannot allow him to go to Italy but if things go well last season he will have the doors open as like every player. [If West Ham get a] good offer and the player wants to go - not a problem, we will replace him."
Club captain Mark Noble also told Sky Sports News: "Pedro Obiang - I think he's gone."
Obiang came off the bench in West Ham's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League Asia Trophy last Wednesday but did not feature in the 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Saturday.
He made made a total of 116 appearances in his four seasons in east London, scoring three goals.
The Spanish-born Equatorial Guinea central midfielder struggled for game time last season due to the rise of Declan Rice.
Obiang would be the eighth senior player to leave the Hammers this summer following the sales of Marko Arnautovic and Lucas Perez as well as the expiration of Andy Carroll, Adrian and Samir Nasri's contracts.
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