West Ham United and Gianluca Scamacca want to part ways as AS Roma lurk for summer transfer
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Gianluca Scamacca wants to quit West Ham United this summer to go and play regularly at a team that suits his style, according to Frank McAvennie.
The Hammers splashed £35m on bringing the Italian to the club last summer but he struggled with injuries and was in-and-out of the team, finishing the campaign with just six goals in all competitions.
Now AS Roma have been linked with a move to replace the injured Tammy Abraham, with West Ham reportedly demanding at least £34m to let him leave but McAvennie has admitted he would be surprised to see the striker stay at the club beyond the summer window.
“It depends, but yeah [I would be surprised] I think so,” he told West Ham Zone.
“Tammy Abraham is injured at Roma that’s why they want him. I think he would want to go there because he’s not getting a game here.
“They brought in Ings and Antonio is still the number one, and he’s the top goalscorer with 13 goals or something. It’s incredible. West Ham strikers should be scoring 20 plus but it’s not happening.
“Under David they’ve become a counter-attacking team and Antonio is good for that because he’s strong and he holds the ball up. Scamacca is feeding off drops.
“He’s someone who you feed the ball across the box and he scores goals, Ings is the same. West Ham are a counter-attacking team now.
“I just think it’s a crime with the players that West Ham have got. Me, I would try and utilise that.
“I think it’s a good combination of getting it right by letting him go and play football to let some of these talents leave. We’ll see.
“I would imagine Scamacca will want to go because he’s not been playing. He’s not one of these players who’ll hold the ball up. It’s a strange one but I think the two [parties] will want the move.
“Then Moyes will want to bring another striker in who can fill the boots when Antonio isn’t playing.”
In other West Ham news, £15.4m bid tabled with Euro club chief flying into London next week to seal deal.