Juventus have made a decision on Filip Kostic that has major consequences for West Ham according to a top Italian journalist.
West Ham have been heavily linked with a move for Serbian assist king Kostic (Sky Sports).
The left-sided Eintracht Frankfurt star, who shone against West Ham in last season’s Europa League, shares the same agent as £35m Hammers signing Gianluca Scamacca.
And West Ham were hoping a meeting between the player – who is out of contract next summer – and his agent Alessandro Lucci in Frankfurt on Friday would bring positive news for David Moyes at the weekend.
It was widely reported, though, that Kostic had snubbed the Hammers.
But there was new hope for Moyes when a highly respected transfer reporter with close links to Kostic’s agent claimed the Serb could in fact sign for West Ham by Wednesday on one condition.
Alfrdo Pedulla was right across West Ham’s interest in Scamacca right from the very start earlier this summer.
Pedulla claimed Kostic had been offered to both Juventus and Inter Milan.
He stated that the Serie A sides were given between 48-72 hours to make a decision. And if they elected not to sign Kostic then he would join West Ham.
In a further boost for the Hammers, Pedulla described Kostic as an “outsider” for a move to Juve or Inter, stating an agreement was already in place with West Ham.
But with 24 hours of that alleged 72-hour window remaining, there appears to have been a massive blow for Moyes.
Because Juventus have made a Kostic decision that has major consequences for West Ham according to the top Italian journalist.
In an exclusive on his own official website this evening, Pedulla claims Juve have performed something of a U-turn and decided they do indeed want the West Ham target.
“Kostic asked West Ham for time until tomorrow (Wednesday), he had been proposed to Juve in recent days, he has been proposed again in the last few hours,” Pedulla reports.
“He wants Juve and very soon Juve will decide whether to take Kostic, as the Serbian hopes and hopes are growing, or another striker (Muriel is always a name on the list).
“Even West Ham will have to wait at least until tomorrow, Kostic is still waiting for Juve and the chance to play in the Champions League.”
It now seems almost inevitable Kostic will head to Juve by the tone of Pedulla’s report.
West Ham fans are certain Moyes has a left-sided player lined up having sanctioned Arthur Masuaku’s departure to Besiktas.
That is looking increasingly unlikely to be Kostic, though.