Italian striker Simeone Zaza has endured a torrid start to life as a West Ham United player on loan from Juventus.
Italy’s Simone Zaza misses in the penalty shootout
The forward, famous for that penalty run-up and miss which made him something of a laughing stock at Euro 2016, joined Slaven Bilic’s side in the summer from the Serie A champions.
He arrived with top billing and a bizarre “obligation to buy” clause which is activated once he plays 15 games.
Zaza actually started quite well in East London with some neat touches and turns in the first half of his debut against Watford.
It was a game in which the Hammers would squander a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2, though, and it has rapidly gone downhill for him since.
Zaza looks dejected
Held up as the man to get the goals to fire West Ham into European contention yet again, Zaza has been found wanting so far and was hauled off at half-time away to West Bromwich Albion with the Hammers 3-0 down.
It ended up being their second 4-2 defeat on the bounce and when he was restored to the side which toiled for 96 minutes against League Two Accrington Stanley in the League Cup things got worse.
Against defenders playing a full three divisions below, the international striker struggled badly.
His touch was abysmal and his finishing not much better. His performance was likened to that of Carlton Cole but that would be doing the Hammers cult hero a disservice.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Bilic has few options up front with Andre Ayew and Andy Carroll both out long term and Jonathan Calleri also struggling for any kind of form.
Yes it is still early days and in many ways Zaza is paying for trying too hard if anything. But the clause has put both the player and the club under immense pressure, especially given the terrible start to the new season.
Nightmare start: Zaza
It may force the club to stop giving the target man game time in the next couple of months if his performances don’t improve or risk having to fork out a club record £25 million for a player they know can’t cut it.
It could end up being one of the most ludicrous transfers in Premier League history and a sorry mess for a club who chased a marquee striker signing all summer long.
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