Gianluca Scamacca sale within reach amid West Ham United and Inter talks despite rejected bid as compromise price emerges
West Ham have rejected Inter’s bid for Gianluca Scamacca but a compromise can still be reached to sell the striker to the Italian giants, Gianluigi Longari reports.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth had suggested that the offer from the San Siro would not be accepted and so it has apparently proven, but while the £18.8million offer, rising to £21.4m with bonuses, is not enough to convince the Hammers, the latest update from Italy suggests a deal can be agreed with some more money on the table.
The Irons have so far dismissed attempts from Roma to complete a loan-to-buy deal for the 24-year-old, and now Jose Mourinho’s side have fallen behind their Serie A rivals, as the reported asking price of £25.7m could be lowered and a £21.4m fee with bonuses on top could be enough to secure a sale.
Sport Italia journalist Gianluigi Longari reported via Twitter on Monday night (31 July): “Inter offer for Scamacca to West Ham is €22m plus €3m bonus. Rejected.
“Hammers request €30m. Possible match point at €25m plus bonuses. Roma offers a loan with compulsory redemption but on difficult terms.”
On the Sport Italia website it is reported that Inter are “definitely ahead in the race” amid “the feeling is that we can meet halfway”.
Door open?
Without lining up a replacement it risks leaving David Moyes short in attack if a sale does go through for Scamacca before the deadline.
The Hammers haven’t even managed to replace Declan Rice yet as the manager and the technical director, Tim Steidten, clash over targets, let alone completed a deal for a new left-back or centre-back.
After a difficult adaptation to the Premier League, and with Scamacca wanting a return to Italy, there is an argument for West Ham to cut their losses and replace him for the right money.
But there still looks to be a number of hurdles in the way of this sale going through in the next four weeks, with the ability to agree a clear transfer plan at the London Stadium chief among them as nothing is getting finished currently.
Inter are then going to need to come up with more money, which Chelsea have already found is easier said than done this summer, and even then it is still a substantial loss on the £30.5m initial fee it cost the Irons to sign Scamacca from Sassuolo a year ago, with the Serie A side entitled to 10% of his next move as well [Sky Sports].
And with Scamacca having made clear how much he would love to go to Roma [Gazzetta dello Sport, 12 July] it remains to be seen whether he would be ready to scrap all that to rock up at one of their rivals.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are now ready to abandon their chase of a “key” Moyes target after having another bid rejected.