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12th Nov 2018

Samir Nasri set for return to the Premier League pending medical

Samir Nasri is set to make his return to the Premier League as West Ham line up an £80,000 contract for the out of work midfielder

Reuben Pinder

The world’s most creative troublemaker returns

Former Arsenal midfielder and infamous bad boy Samir Nasri is currently undergoing a medical at West Ham United, according to Standard Sport.

Nasri will sign a short-term contract with the London club, having last played a competitive match in November 2017 with Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

The Frenchman has just returned from a doping ban, which he picked up for breaching World Anti Doping Agency rules in December 2016 by receiving an intravenous drip of 500 millilitres of water which contained banned nutrients.

The ban was initially meant to last six months, but was extended by UEFA to 18 months following an appeal against the original sanction, despite the fact that he had made seven appearances for Antalyaspor at the time.

The ban ends in December, at which point he will be free to join West Ham.

Nasri will reunite with Manuel Pellegrini, who worked with the playmaker at Manchester City, where Nasri played the best football of his career.

Pellegrini is reportedly working hard to tie the 31-year-old down to a six month contract at the London Stadium, as he looks to add creativity to their midfield.

The Hammers are currently missing Jack Wilshere, who signed from Arsenal in the summer but fell victim to yet another injury, and Andriy Yarmolenko, who tore his achilles tendon three weeks ago, ruling himself out for the remainder of the season.

Nasri could add some inventive spark to West Ham’s midfield, but his fitness levels could be an issue given the amount of time he has gone without playing professional football.