By Sam Stone

1st Jun, 2023 | 5:10pm

West Ham United: AC Milan want Gianluca Scamacca as £30m Lois Openda new emerges

AC Milan want to sign West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca on loan if they don’t pursue a move for Lens’ Loïs Openda, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport.

As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport on 28 May, Milan have made Openda one of their number one attacking targets. It’s believed Lens want £30million for the striker, which could be out of Milan’s budget.

Gazzetta Dello Sport now claim in Thursday’s edition (pg 74, 1 June), that Scamacca could be viewed as an alternative. Juventus are also understood to be monitoring the situation if Dušan Vlahović departs Turin.

It’s believed Scamacca wants to find a team which gives him confidence and the opportunity for more gametime.

Stay put

Scamacca and West Ham would be foolish to part ways. He’s endured a tough first season, but we regularly see players grow into their surroundings in the Premier League. There’s a player in there somewhere and there’s every chance he finds his feet next season.

With Michail Antonio potentially moving on, there could well be opportunities for the 24-year-old and considering West Ham forked out a significant outlay on the attacker, they have to stick by their investment. David Moyes has to show more faith in the striker and Scamacca needs to adapt.

It promises to be another intriguing summer at the London Stadium with the board looking to avoid a repeat of West Ham’s disappointing domestic campaign. A slow start won’t be tolerated and it’s up to Moyes to get his team performing straight away.

Before the summer plans can be put in place, there’s the small matter of a European final for the Hammers to look forward to.