West Ham United transfer news: Gianluca Scamacca agrees exit terms with replacement signing on the cards
Gianluca Scamacca has agreed terms with Roma ahead of an exit from West Ham this summer, according to the Evening Standard.
The Italian had a “disastrous” first year in England after his £35.5million move from Sassuolo last summer, ostensibly to become the main man at the London Stadium.
It didn’t work out, as he scored only three goals in the Premier League before his season was ended by injury, amid a feeling that he doesn’t fit with David Moyes’ style of play.
Now, a return to Serie A is on the cards, with Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi the 24-year-old’s preferred option, and the Hammers are prepared to sanction a loan exit with an option to buy, after the Italian side’s director Tiago Pinto visited London to agree a deal.
However, according to the Evening Standard, West Ham want to sign a replacement striker before they let the Italian international go.
Exit-bound
There doesn’t appear to be any prospect of Scamacca playing for West Ham next season, and by the looks of things the chances of him ever turning out in claret and blue again look remote.
It is a miserable return for both player and club after the big-money move a year ago, which saw the striker turn down a late hijack attempt from Paris Saint-Germain to complete his move to London.
He has been a success in Serie A before so all parties will be hoping that he can be again, either with a view to boosting his exit fee or bringing him back to the Irons with renewed confidence.
But if Moyes doesn’t feel he fits after working with him for a year, and the Scot appears to have beaten speculation over his job by winning a European trophy, there would be little point in repeating an uncomfortable season together.
With Tammy Abraham injured in Rome Scamacca could become the main man for Mourinho and potentially make West Ham some money back, although it would be a big surprise for it to be anywhere near what they paid.
As Michail Antonio has been linked to an exit for some time as well Moyes is going to need to sign a striker either way, unless the Jamaica international gets convinced to prolong his stay for a second window running.
But West Ham are going to need to make sure they are a lot more successful with the next scorer they bring in during the summer window with last summer’s already on the way out.