West Ham United transfer decision justified as Gianluca Scamacca picks up injury with Atalanta
West Ham United were eager to add to their striking options this summer as David Moyes looked for more competition across his forward line.
It seemed as though the Hammers had finally solved their striker woes with the signing of Gianluca Scamacca last summer, but after an ineffective year in England, he was sold this summer to Serie A side Atalanta in a deal worth £27million [Daily Mail, 7 August].
The Italian forward struggled to adapt to life in England, making 16 appearances in the Premier League and only managing to score three goals, as he suffered from a variety of injuries and underwent knee surgery.
There was some suggestion that the Irons should given the forward time to find his feet in the Premier League and a second season could have finally seen some return on the Hammers’ investment. A feeling that was potentially reinforced by the 24-year-old’s form at the start of the campaign, as he scored twice in 162 minutes of action for Atalanta.
But David Moyes’ decision to allow the striker to depart appears to have been vindicated as according to Tutto Mercato (20 September), Scamacca has suffered another setback. The Italian publication reported that the forward is likely to be out for three weeks having suffered a thigh injury against Fiorentina.
While the Italians’s departure has left Moyes short on forward options this summer, with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings the only recognised senior centre-forwards in the Irons’ squad, Scamacca would have been of little use to the Hammers if he was once again rooted to the treatment table.
It was incredibly clear that the 24-year-old had no interest in continuing his career at the London Stadium and while West Ham did make a small loss on the forward, they could well have cut their ties with him at the perfect time before his value fell massively.
So far this season, the likes of Antonio and Jarred Bowen have ensured that very few fans and pundits are worried about the lack of a 20-goal-a-season striker and with the money earned from the sale of Scamacca, Moyes may be able to replace him in January.
Whether or not West Ham do manage to find the centre-forward they’ve been so desperately searching for when the window opens once again is yet to be seen. But either way, they seem to be much better off without the Italian striker.
In other West Ham news, Antonio has made a bold claim that the Irons will finish above Liverpool this season