West Ham United may be in the market for an attacking midfielder to fill the Lucas Paqueta void next summer, but convincing Napoli to cash in on Antonio Vergara will be no easy task.
According to reports, the Hammers made a £17 million bid for Vergara as the January window came to a close [Area Napoli].
Serie A giants Napoli, though, consider their 23-year-old rising star ‘untouchable’.
Now, at least West Ham United can say they were ahead of the curve. They liked Vergara before it was cool.
Serious question – are you taking a peak Mateus Fernandes or a peak Lucas Paqueta in your dream midfield?!
But with a Serie A Young Player of the Month award under his belt alongside comparisons to Manchester City icon Bernardo Silva – plus a glorious Champions League strike against Chelsea – if Napoli thought he was unsellable then, imagine how they view their baby-faced homegrown hero now.
Napoli have no plans to sell Antonio Vergara to West Ham United
In the immediate aftermath of that failed bid from the London Stadium, former Italy youth prospect Vergara was named Serie A’s ‘Rising Star’ for February.
Exploding onto the scene with that roulette-and-finish versus Chelsea – a goal Napoli’s favourite sons from Diego Maradona to Khvicha Kvara-dona would have been proud of – Vergara followed that up with a maiden Serie A goal against Fiorentina and three assists in his last five outings.
“The hard work, the intense anticipation, the excitement of his debut, the initial joys, and then the consecration; all this sums up Antonio Vergara ‘s season so far,” said Luigi De Siervo, the Italian top flight’s CEO, after he claimed an award previously held by Juventus talisman Kenan Yildiz and Como’s Real Madrid-bound playmaker Nico Paz.
Vergara has earned comparisons to Bernardo Silva of Man City
Callum Wilson started in Paqueta’s old role as West Ham edged out Fulham at Craven Cottage. The 33-year-old poacher is, at best, a square peg in a round hole. He touched the ball only ten times prior to his 60th minute substitution.
January recruit Pablo Felipe brought physicality and aggression to the number ten spot before his recent calf injury but, while the results suggest West Ham are not missing the inconsistent Paqueta particularly greatly, the ‘second striker’ role is surely one Nuno and co will look to address come the summer.
Vergara is not quite a classic number ten a la Paqueta. Standing at 6ft, he is more about explosive bursts of acceleration, aggressive carries and a slaloming change of direction.
He has been likened to Manchester City veteran Bernardo Silva, via CalcioNapoli24. Speaking to Radio CRC, while Vergara grew up idolising the similarly left-footed Lionel Messi, he would pore over the performances of Piotr Zielinski in Napoli’s baby-blue.
How badly have we missed Pablo Felipe? 👀
Nuno wants him back ASAP 👇
Bernardo Silva and Zielinski certainly reflect a more modern interpretation of the old ‘number ten’ position, where attacking midfielders are expected to combine their natural creativity with a fierce discipline and an ability to keep possession under pressure.
Two areas of Lucas Paqueta’s game which were often found wanting during a difficult final few months in East London.
“I really like him,” former Roma and Lazio director Walter Sabatini tells La Repubblica. “He’s a champion. He’s strong, stubborn, and tenacious. When he runs with the ball at his feet towards goal, he does so with great courage.
“He has a clean, technical solution [to figuring out problems on the pitch]. If, as I believe, he doesn’t let his popularity deter him, he’ll be important for the [Italian] national team].”
Unfortunately for West Ham, already under contract until 2030, Vergara is shaping up to be extremely important for Napoli’s future as well.
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