West Ham United eye ‘excellent’ £21m Roma ace Roger Ibanez as part of Gianluca Scamacca deal
West Ham are “among the suitors” for Roma and Brazil defender Roger Ibanez, according to Calciomercato.
The publication claims that the Hammers will mention the Brazilian’s name while discussing a potential switch to Roma for Gianluca Scamacca.
Calciomercato noted that Ibanez, who has two caps for his national team, will cost around €25-28million (£21-£24million) this summer.
“Among the suitors, Newcastle has left, while West Ham could come under their spell in the speeches for Scamacca that will be staged in London these hours,” according to Calciomercato.
“Ibanez, back from serious mistakes in the derby but also from an excellent European career that led him to the national team, has now understood that he has to change his mind and could bring in at least €25-28million to the Roma coffers.”
One to watch
The future of West Ham striker Scamacca really is up in the air at this moment in time, with nobody quite sure if he will push on at the London Stadium and fight for his place in the starting XI next season, or else pack it all in and make a return to his home country.
Both options seem plausible after the Italian international’s clear struggles in his debut campaign in England, with Scamacca netting just three league goals.
If he does make a switch to Roma this summer, the club where he spent many years as a youth player, it would certainly get Hammers fans excited about one player potentially moving in the other direction.
There are plenty of talented stars in the Roma side, many of which definitely wouldn’t say no to joining the Hammers after they clinched a spot in next season’s Europa League.
And Ibanez is one such player, although it would make more sense for West Ham to target a forward if they were to lose Scamacca.