It would be a surprising move for most clubs, but West Ham's pursuit of Samir Nasri has a very familiar feel to it.
The West London club have developed a reputation for signing ageing players on big money, Pablo Zabaleta, Patrice Evra, Joe Hart etc, and it looks like Nasri will join Manuel Pellegrini's side on a short term deal for a reported £80,000 a week.
Nasri will not be available until 2019, when his 18 month doping ban expires, and many fans are railing at the move, citing the fact that Nasri will need a few months to get up to speed physically and that his best days are behind him.
Fans are also unhappy that the club are willing to splash £80 grand a week on a 31-year-old coming off a doping ban, while Declan Rice's contract remaining in the balance:
Any money has to go on midfield, its only been weakest area for 5 years plus, evra, nasri..truly truly baffling and not paying rice,
Things like this just confirm the short termism and incompetence at the top.— Westhamlee (@funkycoolers) November 12, 2018
Declan Rice when he reads Samir Nasri is signing for WH for 80k a week... pic.twitter.com/BssiaVLr4L
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) November 12, 2018
Rushing to sign Nasri on £80k a week and stalling over Rice’s new contract? the circus is back in town ? #WHUFC
— Alex Bicknell (@AlexBicknell89) November 12, 2018
I think it’s more about the issue with Rice’s contract..... unwilling to pay the kid £35k a week but throwing money at Nasri who’s been banned for 18 months and won’t be fit for at least 2-3 months
— Joe Selner (@JoeSelner) November 12, 2018
Signing Nasri on 80k a week, but Declan Rice can’t get a new contact... pic.twitter.com/CBvzkwJCOy
— Max McLellan (@McLellanMax) November 12, 2018
“Why are we paying £80k for a geezer who will take 3 months to get fit?” ?
“They’re stalling over giving Rice £35k. What does that show our youngsters?”
Angry #WHUFC fan goes ‘ballistic’ to @talkSPORTDrive over Nasri deal ?
What do you think? ? pic.twitter.com/ORUyUvQCFS
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 12, 2018
No doubt Nasri is a fantastic player but so is Rice come on West Ham give the boy a decent deal FFS!
— Gavin (@uptonspark17) November 12, 2018
Signing Samir Nasri would be a decent option for us in the midfield. But a new contract given to Declan Rice would be even better.
— Vish Narayan (@VishNarayan5) November 12, 2018
Rice: Excellent week in week out. Captain in waiting. Unresolved contract. Paltry offer.
Nasri: Hasn't played in a year. £80k per week. pic.twitter.com/vJXgqAyEkA
— J O S E P H (@JosephFordham) November 12, 2018
So we're giving Samir fucking Nasri £80k a week and won't even give Declan Rice the £40k he fucking deserves. You are a joke, same old same old with this club @davidgold
— Prentice (@Prenticee_x) November 12, 2018
West Ham are in the market for a winger after new signing Andriy Yarmolenko was ruled out for up to six months with an achilles injury suffered against Tottenham last month.
Rice's current £3,000-a-week contract expires at the end of next season and the 19-year-old has already turned down an increase to £15,000.
