West Ham United made contact with Francesco Acerbi regarding a potential move to the Premier League but the Lazio defender is undergoing a deadline day medical at Serie A giants Inter Milan instead, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
Will West Ham bring a new centre-half to the London Stadium before the clock strikes 11pm tonight? Only time will tell. But things don’t look particularly positive right about now.
It is surely no coincidence that, after Aston Villa beat the Hammers to Southampton’s Jan Bednarek, talks over a deal that would have seen Craig Dawson join Wolves appear to have been called off (talkSPORT).
Dawson has fallen behind Thilo Kehrer in David Moyes’ pecking order. But, still, selling the ever-reliable 32-year-old without first signing a replacement would be an odd decision, especially with European football likely to stretch West Ham’s squad to it’s limits.
West Ham miss out on Francesco Acerbi to Inter Milan
Acerbi, the 25-time Italy international, was one of the Bednarek alternatives under consideration. Per La Lazio Siamo Noi, West Ham enquired about the evergreen 34-year-old earlier in August.
Acerbi’s next appearance, however, should come in the blue and black of Inter. The former AC Milan defender is undergoing a medical with the Nerrazzuri ahead of a return to the San Siro.
“It’s well known that Inter are looking for a central defender,” Acerbi’s agent, Federico Pastorello, explained last week.
“The player, being Italian and having already worked with Simone Inzaghi (at Lazio), is certainly one of the candidates. Clearly, it would be a goal for him.
“If he is to leave Lazio, then Inter would be one of the favourite destinations.”
Dawson, then, looks set to miss out on a return to the Midlands. Unless, of course, West Ham can find another eligible centre-half target before 11pm.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
