West Ham United talks for Gianlucca Scamacca onto add-ons after £34m bid
West Ham are now discussing the structure of a deal with Sassuola for Gianluca Scamacca and potential add-ons, according to Ryan Taylor.
The Hammers have launched into an attempt to sign the Italian striker with the situation around top target Armando Broja bogged down, and the Albanian is now heading to the US to join up with his Chelsea teammates.
The 23-year-old Scamacca scored 16 Serie A goals in the 2021/22 season and had been the subject of an approach from Paris Saint-Germain, but an agreement hasn’t been reached with the French champions.
In the Express Taylor reports: “Now the Hammers are looking to hijack the deal after entering formal discussions with the Italian outfit as fellow striker target Armando Broja prepares to jet off to the United States with Chelsea on their pre-season tour next week.”
And on Twitter the reporter wrote: “Hammers have offered initial £34m (€40m). Structure + add-ons now under discussion.”
He reports that the club are currently prepared to pay a total package of £40million, consisting of £34million up front and £6million in add-ons, while the Italians want £45million and Inter are also circling.
Steal
The Irons have been in the position of having other sides swoop in and attempt to take their transfer targets over the past year but the tables have turned on this one.
Broja may still become available but they are clearly not ready to make up their mind on his future over at Chelsea, with multiple meetings held by Todd Boehly to discuss it already [Evening Standard].
If the club are willing to go as high as £40million in total for a highly rated goalscorer in Scamacca then it would seem logical that they are prepared to meet the asking price.
Most sides make an initial offer that is lower in attempt to strike a sweeter deal, and if discussions are continuing on how the bid will be formulated when it is made official then it suggests Sassuolo haven’t shut it down.
Therefore this one is already showing more progress than the move for Broja, 20, and arguably would be a more attractive option.
Scamacca is only 23 himself and scored more than double the league goals of the younger forward, while it appears that if an agreement can be reached he would also be available sooner.
The door looks to be open on this one and West Ham are serious if big money is already under discussion, so there’s reason to be cautiously optimistic.
It would also be of some satisfaction if they are able to gazump mega-rich PSG for a deal that could be a real difference-maker.