Fulham are now trying to sign longstanding West Ham striker target Duvan Zapata as talks break down over a move.
West Ham and London rivals Fulham are both in the market to sign a new striker before the summer transfer window shuts next week.
Fulham have lost star forward Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi side Al-Hilal while West Ham have sold Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta.
And it is that West Ham deal that has lead to a domino effect which could see a player the Hammers have tried to sign twice before end up at Craven Cottage.
David Moyes opened up on his failed attempt to bring Atalanta striker Zapata to West Ham on deadline day in the 2021-22 season.
Fulham are now trying to sign longstanding West Ham striker target Duvan Zapata as talks break down over move
“That one (a deal for Zapata) was done,” Moyes told The Evening Standard at the time.
“But they (Atalanta), for the last four hours of the window, just disappeared, shut down.”
The Colombian, who also came close to joining West Ham under Sam Allardyce earlier in his career, remained at Atalanta.
Zapata, 32, has been linked with West Ham yet again this summer and admitted he is aware of the interest in an interview with Italian outlet Gazetta.
However, with new technical director Tim Steidten on board at the London Stadium, West Ham are looking at younger players to build a new-look team for the future.
The powerful forward looked set to leave Atalanta for Roma following West Ham’s sale of Scamacca to the Bergamo club.
But Fulham are now trying to sign longstanding West Ham striker target Zapata as talks break down over a move.
The proposed move to Roma has broken down according to Sky Sports.
Cottagers look to finally bring Zapata to London after Hammers tried twice
And Fulham have pounced to try and finally land the man who was seen by Moyes as the ideal like-for-like replacement for Michail Antonio.
“Zapata is high on the list of striker options Fulham have in mind ahead of Transfer Deadline Day on September 1…” Sky Sports claim.
“Roma have turned their attentions to completing a deal for Sardar Azmoun at Bayer Leverkusen following the collapse of talks for Zapata.”
West Ham meanwhile are said to be close to completing a stunning deal for Ajax star Mohammed Kudus — who can play as a forward.
The Hammers are also in talks to try and sign strikers Hugo Ekitike and Youssef En-Nesyri – who are 11 and six years Zapata’s junior respectively.