West Ham United have targeted Levante midfielder Victor Camarasa as they begin to prepare for their first season in the Olympic Stadium.

Slaven Bilic’s side, sat in seventh in the Premier League, are facing the prospect of European football next season and have identified the Spain under-21 international as part of their summer of ambitious recruitment.

Camarasa is rated as one of the best young midfielders in La Liga, and is an integral part of the side who are currently struggling second from bottom in the table. If Levante are relegated to the Segunda Division they will have to sell Camarasa, and West Ham are confident that they could sign him for as little as £3million this summer.

Stoke City were thought to be interested in him during last month’s transfer window, before settling for the higher-profile Gianelli Imbula of Porto instead, while Newcastle United were also keen.

21-year-old Camarasa is an imposing box-to-box midfielder who has caught the eye this season with his ability from dead-ball situations and eye-catching goals from long range. If he came to West Ham he would compliment their already powerful midfield options of Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang.

West Ham have already started their ambitious planning for their new era by tying Dimitri Payet to a new £125,000 per week deal which will last until 2021. With more contracts on the way for their biggest players, as well as a summer of signings, West Ham are hoping to step into the ranks of England’s bigger clubs.

“Many other clubs are selling clubs,” Slaven Bilic said at a press conference last month. “But we are moving stadium, we are talking and acting like we are going to try – not overnight – but trying to go up as a club. For me, the most important thing regarding that is not to sell your best players.”