The chief of Italian club Sassuolo has confirmed the sale of ‘huge talent’ Gianluca Scamacca to West Ham and backs him to do ‘great things’.
Reports have intensified this weekend that West Ham are set to seal a blockbuster deal to sign Scamacca from Sassuolo.
Powerful striker Scamacca has been one of West Ham’s prime targets this summer.
Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla has been right across the Scamacca latest as West Ham renewed their efforts to sign the 6ft 5in 23-year-old this week.
He claims the striker will arrive at West Ham on Monday or Tuesday, presumably to meet David Moyes, see the facilities and stadium and – if all goes well – undergo a medical.
After a torrid week on and off the pitch for West Ham’s manager, the Scamacca news is a welcome boost.
But West Ham fans are too long in the tooth to take for granted that a player will sign for them.
Just this week the Hammers lost out to Nottingham Forest for Jesse Lingard at the 11th hour after chasing him for over a year.
And yesterday a BBC Sport journalist warned Hammers fans that personal terms still had to be agreed with Scamacca before any deal was sealed.
Now it seems West Ham would be snatching transfer defeat from the jaws of victory if they don’t sign the Sassuolo star.
Because their club chief Giovanni Carnevali has confirmed the sale of ‘huge talent’ Scamacca to West Ham and backs him to do ‘great things’ with the Hammers.
“There’s an agreement with West Ham,” Carnevali told Corriere dello Sport– as also reported by Hammers site KUMB.
“I’m sure he will do great things.
“He’s a huge talent and a very good guy.”
Signing a powerful, exciting, 23-year-old Italian international striker is seriously impressive business from West Ham.
And goodness knows Moyes needs him.
Michail Antonio has been a superb servant for West Ham.
But he has been in woeful form this year and that has continued in pre-season where he has missed a string of one on ones and easy chances.
Antonio will still have a big role to play at West Ham and may flourish with more rest and less pressure on him to be the goalscorer.
Scamacca is major talent, though, and looks every inch of his 6ft 5 frame to be a class act capable of succeeding in the Premier League.