Hellas Verona President Maurizio Setti has dealt West Ham United a possible blow to their transfer chase of Giovanni Simeone, after declaring that both parties want to stay together.
Reports by the Express last month claimed the Irons are plotting a third swoop on the Serie A for Simeone. David Moyes is keen to add another body to the attacking ranks at the club to strengthen their chances of finishing the season in the Premier League top-four places.
West Ham are still to replace Sebastien Haller after selling the Ivory Coast forward to Ajax in January. His exit left Michail Antonio as the only recognised senior striker in east London.
Moyes did explore a deal for West Ham to sign Simeone twice, though, but he joined Hellas Verona on loan. They paid Cagliari £1.3m for a season-long deal, which includes a £10.2m option to purchase the 26-year-old next summer.
The son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has since been a revelation under Igor Tudor, with the forward netting nine and assisting three goals in just 13 Serie A fixtures.
Hellas Verona are now likely to trigger their option, and President Setti claims Simeone also wants to stay put. But the Gialloblu chief has admitted to DAZN, via Calciomercato, that it is still too soon to discuss his future.
“It’s early, too soon,” he said. “Cholito is doing well, on both sides there is a great desire to stay together, but then we’ll see.”
West Ham unlikely to sign Hellas Verona star loanee Simeone
West Ham discussed a similar loan-to-buy deal for Simeone that Hellas Verona agreed with intermediaries this summer. But the terms debated would have included a £14m option.
Hellas Verona also assured Simeone he would be their main striker, rather than supporting Antonio at West Ham. That difference is likely to again prove challenging for Moyes to sign a striker in January, with the Daily Mail noting forwards are reluctant to join as a backup.
The Gialloblu have so far lived up to their word, with Simeone starting 10 of 14 available Serie A games. So, with the five-cap Argentine also impressing and open to staying, West Ham are unlikely to convince Simeone to leave Hellas Verona for a seat on Moyes’ bench.
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