West Ham United and AC Milan consider swap deal between Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere
West Ham United and AC Milan are considering a loan swap deal between Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere, according to Italian journalist Carlo Pelegatti.
Scamacca has failed to settle in at the London Stadium since completing his £35.5million move from Sassuolo last summer, scoring just three Premier League goals from 16 outings.
Meanwhile, De Ketelaee, 22, remains goalless from his 35 appearances for the Italian giants since sealing a 2022 transfer but remains highly regarded following his prior success at Club Brugge.
Speaking on his YouTube channel about the potential loan swap (26 April), Pellegatti admitted that AC Milan didn’t want to sell the Belgium international, but an exchange of loans for Scamacca is on the table.
“Colleagues at TeleLombardia are speculating about an exchange of loans – and we can agree given the similar price – between Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca,” he said.
“As far as I know, I have my sources, the Belgian – barring unforeseen circumstances – Milan do not want to sell, but in the face of interesting offers, you can rethink to the situation.”
Not needed
Although Scamacca has failed to hit the ground running at the London Stadium, would swapping him for De Ketelaere actually be any better?
The Belgium international isn’t as much an out-and-out striker as Scamacca but more of an attacking midfielder in the ilk of Lucas Paqueta or Said Benrahma.
The Hammers simply don’t need yet another player in this mould.
Instead, David Moyes’ side would be better off either sticking with the Italian international and hoping he finally finds his feet in the Premier League or searching the market for a proper striker.
Danny Ings, 30, and Michail Antonio, 33, aren’t getting any younger, so looking for a younger attacking option makes plenty of sense, just not De Ketelaere.
There is no doubting the 22-year-old’s quality in the final third and the potential he holds, but West Ham United have several other areas of the pitch that require strengthening this summer.