West Ham United face Premier League battle to sign AS Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo
West Ham are interested in the signing of AS Roma forward Nicolo Zaniolo, but face a battle with Premier League rivals for his signature, according to transfer expert Alfredo Pedulla.
The talented Italian international has long been a target [17 October] of Premier League clubs in the past, including Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
And the 23-year-old has failed to make an impression for Mourinho this season registering just one goal in 13 Serie A appearances, and with his contract situation up in 2024, he could well be on the move this month or in the summer.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist Pedulla, writing on his personal website [14 January], stated while Serie A’s big hitters Juventus and AC Milan have asked for information on the player, a move to the Premier League remains a possibility with no talks of a contract renewal at the Stadio Olimpico planned.
And Tottenham are reportedly leading the race for the forward, but he is also being followed by the Hammers, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.
Unlikely
This is certainly an ambitious move by the Hammers. Considering the club’s current plight in the Premier League and their depleting chances of challenging the elite consistently, harbouring ambitions to sign Zaniolo seem incredibly lofty.
With Tottenham and Newcastle in better positions to challenge and win trophies, those two destinations are the obvious most likely choices for Zaniolo to consider. Any decision to pick the Hammers is hugely unlikely.
Going for such a decorated and prestigious forward is another sign of the club’s ambitions especially after signing the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Gianluca Scamcca and Nayef Aguerd. However, those signings aren’t proving fruitful right now, which may deter potential stars from joining the Hammers.
If the club are to successfully sign European stars again, they must improve their plight in the Premier League and consistently battle for the top prizes.
Whether that’s with Moyes in charge looks increasingly uncertain considering his current struggles to get the best out of his current crop.