West Ham United: Riccardo Calafiori wants future London Stadium move
FC Basel defender Riccardo Calafiori has admitted in an interview with Voce Giallorossa that he wants to move to West Ham in the future.
The 20-year-old is impressing in the Swiss Super League having left Serie A giants Roma in the summer and he claims to have two targets ahead of him.
Roma manager Jose Mourinho chose not to keep him on at the Stadio Olimpico which has sparked his resurgence to prove the Portuguese man wrong.
When asked what the future may hold for him, Calafiori said: “I have two images: going back to Italy, perhaps in Rome, or my dream would be to play in the Premier League. I really like West Ham or Chelsea.”
The 20-year-old also admits that his relationship with Mourinho was a complicated one as the experienced coach liked to test him out with a variety of methods in training.
Risky
Signing a player from a league as low down in the European pecking order as the Swiss division will always be a risk but Calafiori does have youth on his side.
Leeds United have proved that there is talent to be found in the Swiss league having purchased Italian international Wilfried Gnonto from FC Zurich in the summer.
Calafiori could easily be equal in ability if he is given the right opportunities to thrive so David Moyes might be wise to sign him if the transfer fee is not astronomically high.
As a left-back too, he also plays in a position where the only options at the London Stadium are both ageing so he could be one that is signed with a view to being the natural replacement in one or two seasons’ time.
There are no signs of an immediate approach but it is good for West Ham to know that he wants to move to the London Stadium should they ever decide to pursue him.