Report: 26-year-old West Ham allegedly bid for seals potential £11m transfer

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Hellas Verona have announced the signing of Cagliari striker Giovanni Simeone on loan with an option to buy, after the Serie A side reportedly rejected an offer from West Ham United.

Simeone completed his move to the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on Thursday to reunite with manager Eusebio Di Francesco. Cagliari fired the Italian in February after failing to win a game in three months, before resurfacing at Hellas Verona.

Simeone scored five goals in 21 games under Di Francesco last term, but only added one in 12 appearances under his successor Leonardo Semplici in all competitions. Sky Italia report the 26-year-old gave his okay to joining Hellas Verona on Wednesday night.

Additionally, Sky Italia report Hellas Verona have agreed to pay Cagliari €1.5m (£1.3m) for Simeone’s season-long loan. The deal features a €12m (£10m) option to buy the Argentine next summer. He could make his Gialloblu debut on Friday against champions Inter Milan.

West Ham had sought to sign Simeone from Cagliari earlier in the summer as David Moyes seeks attacking depth. Calciomercato reported the Irons offered Gli Isolani €1m (£850k) for a similar loan-to-buy deal featuring an undisclosed purchase option.

Michail Antonio remains West Ham’s only recognised striker with Moyes yet to replace Sebastien Haller at the London Stadium. The Hammers sold the Ivorian in January at a £25m loss on the fee paid to Eintracht Frankfurt 18-months prior.

Simeone is the second striker West Ham have targeted to elect for a Serie a transfer after leaving Cagliari. Moyes also sought to sign Tammy Abraham from Chelsea, per talkSPORT, before the England international joined Roma for €40m (£34m).

Will West Ham rue not going back in for new Hellas signing Simeone?

West Ham seemingly had their limit with Simeone and felt the fee Cagliari wanted was too high. Otherwise, Moyes may have continued pursuing the son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone before he joined Hellas Verona.

Now, Moyes remains on the hunt for a late-window addition to take some of the pressure away from Antonio. The forward has started the season sensationally to become the Irons’ all-time Premier League record goalscorer. But he struggled with injuries last season, which will play on the minds of staff and supporters in east London.