West Ham United have been linked with Torino and Italy striker Andrea Belotti.
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini needs a new striker and he has exactly month to get at least one through the door.
Thus far West Ham’s pursuit of Maxi Gomez, Salomon Rondon and a host of other targets has proved fruitless.
West Ham released Andy Carroll and have sold Lucas Perez and now Marko Arnautovic (Sky Sports).
Pellegrini’s plan B-elotti?
One alternative in the frame for the Hammers is Italian striker Belotti.
West Ham were said to have had a £35million bid for the Italian striker rejected in January (Football Italia).
Torino had slapped an eye-watering £88million buyout clause on Belotti’s head when they signed him from Palermo for just £5m back in 2015.
Italian journalist Nicolo Schira suggested West Ham could make a move for Torino frontman.
West Ham’s inside man Maresca
Schira claims the east London club are considering offering him a five-year contract with a bid in the region of £35m to Torino being lined up.
And this time West Ham could have an inside man to help get the deal done in the shape of first team coach Enzo Maresca.
The Italian played for a host of top clubs across Italy and Europe during his career.
He was brought to West Ham by Pellegrini after spending time as assistant manager at Sevilla.
Hammers must find a way to persuade a striker to join
It is not just the Italian link between Maresca and Belotti that could help grease the wheels if West Ham do move for the 25-year-old.
Crucially they played together for nearly two years at Palermo in 2014/15 as this picture proves.
First West Ham need to have a bid accepted by Torino.
Then Maresca could be key to the Hammers finally persuading a top quality forward to join the club.
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