Respected transfer reporter Gianluca Di Marzio has made a West Ham transfer revelation that will leave fans feeling sick.
As Hammers fans will know, it was widely reported all summer that David Moyes was desperately trying to sign Serbian assist king Filip Kostic from Eintracht Frankfurt.
A host of sources claimed West Ham were closing in on agreeing a deal and terms with Kostic.
The likes of Fabrizio Romano at one stage stated the Hammers were pushing hard to get the move done.
And West Ham knew all about the left-footed star’s talents having faced Kostic in the Europa League semi-finals last season.
Kostic is represented by Italian agent Alessandro Lucci, the same man who looks after West Ham’s summer striker signing Gianluca Scamacca.
But in the end Italian giants Juventus came in for the Serb and he moved to Turin instead.
Now reporter Di Marzio has made a Kostic West Ham transfer revelation that will leave fans feeling sick.
Because in an article with Grand Hotel Calcio Mercato, Di Marzio reveals that West Ham were in the box seat to sign Kostic only to miss out on what has turned out to be one of the signings of the summer in Italy.
Kostic has been one of Juve’s best players this season and fans already love the 30-year-old – who has not disappointed with a goal and seven assists already.
That’s only four goal contributions less than West Ham as a team have managed in the Premier League so far this term.
Now Di Marzio has explained how West Ham were initially leading the race for Kostic and came so close to signing him before Juve swooped.
“First the London side proposed €12m plus €3m (£12.9m total) in add-ons before increasing the figures to €15m plus €5m ((£17.2m total). The Bundesliga side rejected both offers, believing them to be too low,” Di Marzio told Grand Hotel Calcio Mercato.
“Massimiliano Allegri highlighted Kostic to the Juventus management and in the first week of August they met with the Serbian’s entourage to discuss a deal. Personal terms were agreed in this meeting, allowing the Bianconeri to fully focus on agreeing a price with Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Things began to speed up after August 8 and the gap between Juventus’ offer and Eintracht’s requests began to narrow, with the only issue being a €2m (£1.7m) difference plus slight alterations to the add-ons.
“On August 9, the two clubs agreed on an €18m deal (£15.5m), including add-ons, and two days later Kostic arrived in Turin.”
How gutting and galling.
Imagine having Kostic in the West Ham side. His pace, power and quality of delivery would be utterly transformative. Particularly for someone like Scamacca, who has been starved of decent service.
We can only hope the players Moyes signed instead – £17.5m Maxwel Cornet and £13.5m Emerson – prove they can start to really contribute when the Premier League resumes next weekend.