Gianlucca Scamacca is expected to complete a move to West Ham
(Picture: Getty Images)Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca is set to arrive in London in the next 24 hours as he closes on a £30.5million move to West Ham.
The two clubs agreed the fee - which could rise to £35.5m with add-ons - for the Italian international late last week and though negotiations are still ongoing over personal terms, West Ham are confident of getting the deal over the line.
The 23-year-old scored 16 goals in 36 Series A appearances last term and made his Italy debut in September, before going on to feature in the goalless Nations League draw against England at Molineux last month.
The Hammers also remain in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over wing-back Filip Kostic, but completing the Scamacca signing is currently the club’s priority, with the new Premier League season now less than a fortnight away.
His arrival would finally mark the end of David Moyes’ protracted search for a new centre-forward.
The Scot has tried and failed to bring in competition to Michail Antonio in each of the past two transfer windows following Sebastian Haller’s departure to Ajax in January 2021 and the need has been made all the more pressing this summer after forward Andriy Yarmolenko left the club at the end of his contract last month.
With Moyes looking to manage Antonio’s preseason minutes, Jarrod Bowen started at centre-forward during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Championship side Luton but was largely ineffective and the experiment was abandoned at half-time.
The Irons have not completely ruled out also moving for Chelsea striker Armando Broja but would be relying on the Blues’ willingness to sanction another loan spell for the Albanian international, who impressed at Southampton last term.
Broja had been Moyes’ No1 target but West Ham are happy to put their interest on hold until later in the window, when Chelsea’s stance becomes more clear.
