West Ham United have made a £34 million bid to bring Gianluca Scamacca to the Premier League from Sassuolo, the Serie A club’s CEO Giovanni Carnevali tells Sky Sport Italia.
Now, Scamacca appears to have found himself in a rather awkward predicament.
It reports from France are to be believed, the Italy international has his heart set on Paris Saint-Germain, and something of a posterboy role in a bold new era at the Parc des Princes. What’s more, Scamacca has already agreed personal terms with the Ligue 1 champions.
And who wouldn’t want to spearhead an attack with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi by their side?
The only problem is – and it’s a problem the size of Mont Blanc – PSG are unwilling to match West Ham’s offer. Les Parisiens are moving away from the ‘glitter’ and the glamour, towards a more reserved, sensible approach to recruitment. Less old dogs, more young pups.
And, according to Carnevali, PSG are offering £30 million for Scamacca and not a penny more.
West Ham United and PSG have made Gianluca Scamacca bids
“Nothing is certain,” the Sassuolo chief explains, via Fabrizio Romano and Football Italia.
“West Ham are offering 40 million euros for Scamacca, and Paris Saint-Germain offering 35 million euros. There are also some bonuses that are different.”
Scamacca, then, is not the only one in an awkward predicament. Do Sassuolo accept a lower bid and let the player join the club of his choice? Or do they accept West Ham’s offer, despite suggestions that the one-time Southampton target has little interest in becoming the second biggest signing in the Hammers history (GFFN)?
“There are issues that are not strictly financial,” Carnevali adds, hinting at Scamacca’s preference for Paris. “They are tied to the technical project and what the player wants.
“What we can say for certain is that we are not a club who are forced to sell. So we need to listen to the needs of the player, to the offers that come in.”
The end of West Ham’s striker search?
Scamacca, a 6ft 5ins monster of a number nine, scored 16 Serie A goals last term. Should he arrive at West Ham, the 23-year-old with shoulders broader than the River Po would finally bring an end to David Moyes’ over-reliance on the injury-prone Michail Antonio.
Not that Antonio would give up his spot without a fight, as Hammers legend Paolo di Canio points out.
“At West Ham, there is Antonio, who is a totem pole,” Di Canio says. “I don’t know if (Scamacca) will be a starter right away.
“It is not easy to be a protagonist in the Premier League. It is a tough championship. (This situation) reminds me of Sebastien Haller. At Eintracht Frankfurt, he scored a goal every two games and at West Ham he struggled.”
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