West Ham United transfer news: Roma chief set to jet into London to sign Gianluca Scamacca after Tammy Abraham blow – Fabrizio Romano
Roma director Tiago Pinto is headed to London this week in an attempt to push through the signing of West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca, Fabrizio Romano reports.
The unfortunate Hammers forward is expected to make a return to Italy this summer after a difficult debut campaign in England, and would jump at the chance for his destination to be the Stadio Olimpico.
With former Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham having suffered an ACL injury in the final game of the Serie A season, the Europa League finalists need a new striker and their club chief is set to try to close a deal in person.
Romano wrote in his Caught Offside Substack Daily Briefing: “AS Roma director Tiago Pinto will be in London later this week in order to advance in negotiations with West Ham for Gianluca Scamacca.
“Roma will ask for Scamacca on loan as replacement for Tammy Abraham after ACL injury.”
TalkSPORT reported on Tuesday (13 June) that talks had already been initiated between West Ham and Roma over a move, with the Italian’s looking for a loan but the Hammers having now ruled out a permanant sale.
Return
There is likely support from all sides to get this move over the line after a season in London that saw Scamacca struggle to live up to his £35.5million price tag in a David Moyes set up that apparently doesn’t suit him.
Ever since his season was ended by injury his return to Italy has been on the cards, and as a former youth player in the capital he clearly seems to want them over Juventus and the Milan giants.
But while a loan may be useful to rebuild some confidence in order to make another run at success with West Ham, if he or the club have written off his prospects in Stratford already then they surely want to make some of their money back.
How possible that will be with Roma is in doubt, with FFP concerns reported to have put Abraham on the transfer list prior to this injury [Telegraph, 1 June].
A solution is needed for Scamacca’s sake, as looking sad on the bench while Moyes ignores him does nothing for anybody.
But if he is sent back to Italy on a loan deal that sees the Irons still likely paying a portion of his Premier League-level wages, it will be a fairly unsatisfying situation.