Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali admits he’s disappointed to see Gianluca Scamacca go after West Ham United secured a £30 million deal to bring the striker to the Premier League, speaking to Sky Sport Italia.
Does this herald the end of West Ham’s so-called ‘striker curse’?
Only time will tell, of course, but it’s hard to imagine a centre-forward better suited to the hustle and bustle of English football than West Ham’s new number seven. As tall and strong as an oak tree at 6ft 5ins, Scamacca scored 16 Serie A goals last term and should thrive amid the silver service provided by Aaron Cresswell, Jarrod Bowen and co at the London Stadium.
“It was not an easy operation and it took some time,” Carnevali explains, West Ham eventually pipping Paris Saint-Germain to the post.
“I am sorry that Scamacca didn’t stay in Italy. But at the same time it’s nice to send a young lad to the Premier League.”
Gianluca Scamacca; West Ham’s new centre-forward
Scamacca actually agreed personal terms with the perennial Ligue 1 champions, per Get France Football News. A PSG side embracing a new era of sustainability and long-term thinking refused to match West Ham’s £30 million offer, however, with David Moyes finally getting his mitts on a striker a year-and-a-half on from Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax.
“Scamacca? When a boy makes a leap like this, it is gratifying,” adds Sassuolo coach Alessio Dionisi. “For the club, for his teammates, and for those who train him.”
The Italy international became West Ham’s fourth signing of the summer, after Flynn Downes, Nayef Aguerd and Alphonse Areola. The Europa League semi-finalists are not finished yet, however.
West Ham have made three bids for Lille’s Belgium international midfielder Amadou Onana. Napoli playmaker Piotr Zielinski is another target, according to reports. Further reinforcements could also arrive at centre-half too after Aguerd underwent surgery to fix an ankle injury.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
