West Ham set to rival Everton in race to sign £7.1m midfielder

West Ham United are reportedly ready to rival Everton in the race to sign £7.1 million rated Aston Villa midfielder Idrissa Gueye, according to the Sun.

The Toffees had matched the release clause in the Senegal international’s contract following Villa’s relegation to the Championship, but now Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is understood to be ready to match that, and to try and persuade him to move to the Olympic Stadium instead.

Despite his club falling from the top-flight, the 26-year-old was rated only behind N’Golo Kante on statistics for defensive midfielders in the Premier League last term, and is available for less than a quarter of the price that Chelsea paid Leicester City for Kante last month.

Gueye made 38 appearances in all competitions for Villa last season – scoring one goal – following a move from Lille last summer, and appears to be on the verge of a move back to the Premier League.