West Ham readying improved offer for Newcastle star

West Ham are ready to return with an improved offer for Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, according to The Sunday Express.

The Magpies have reportedly already rejected an offer of £10m for the London-born 26-year-old, despite the fact that he has not started a Premier League game since early November.

Shelvey has been injured for much of that time but hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with Rafa Benitez owing to a lack of defensive work rate.

West Ham are known to be on the lookout for midfield options having been blighted by injuries in that position all season and seem ready to test Newcastle’s resolve once more with an increased bid.

Despite not always being a first team regular under the Spaniard, Benitez does not want to lose the former England international in what promises to be a battle against the drop this season.

Shelvey has scored just one league goal since Newcastle returned to the top-flight in 2017 but remains one of the club’s most creative players, averaging 2.4 key passes per 90 minutes this season.