There is no hope for West Ham despite striker target Gianluca Scamacca instantly rejecting Arsenal after their bid for him was accepted.
David Moyes wants to bring Italian forward Scamacca to West Ham this summer according to a report from The Sun.
So it came as a huge blow this morning when news emerged that Arsenal have made a bid for Sassuolo striker Scamacca.
10 Most EXPENSIVE Footballers Ever | NEYMAR IN 2ND?!
Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims Arsenal lodged a €40 million (£35 million) bid to sign the giant 23-year-old striker.
Both Arsenal and West Ham desperately need to sign at least one new striker this summer.
The Hammers and Gunners have been linked with a plethora of forwards. And West Ham have even been linked with former Arsenal attacker Stephy Mavididi having initiated talks with his agent.
It seems both Moyes and Mikel Arteta want the same target when it comes to Scamacca, though.
With Arsenal in the Europa League and clearly still a an attractive proposition for a young player, Arteta’s interest in the alleged Moyes target was bad news for the Hammers.
But there appears to be no hope for West Ham despite striker target Scamacca instantly rejecting Arsenal after their bid for him was accepted.
Pedulla’s report claims that the striker – who scored 16 goals last season – rejected a move to the Emirates ‘almost immediately’.
In normal circumstances that may have given West Ham hope they could still land him.
But the reason for the quick-fire rejection of Arsenal is that Scamacca wants to stay in Italy and has no interest in leaving his country to play in the Premier League this summer.
It is a real shame because Scamacca is one of the most talented players in the Serie A.
However it seems if he is to leave Sassuolo this summer then it will be for another Italian club and not London rivals West Ham or Arsenal.
Both Moyes and Arteta will have to turn their attentions to other targets.
The Hammers have been linked with Arsenal’s soon to be out of contract Eddie Nketiah and Chelsea academy product Armando Broja.
The trouble is there seems to be a dearth of quality strikers across Europe since the evolution to clubs playing one up front.
And every club is on the hunt for the top talent.
The summer window opens on June 10th and both West Ham and Arsenal will have little time to waste if they want a new striker in and ready to start pre-season training with them in July.