West Ham United will have to see off competition from Atletico Madrid in their pursuit of Torino striker Andrea Belotti in the summer transfer window.
According to Tuttosport, high-flying West Ham United will have to see off La Liga champions Atletico Madrid if they want to land Torino star Andrea Belotti in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The 28-year-old is one of Serie A’s top marksmen and has led the Torino line with aplomb for years. He has been at the club for seven years now and has made 247 appearances across all competitions, scoring 110 goals and assisting 28 more.
While Belotti’s form might have taken a downward spiral this season, he is still in his prime and can turn around his fortunes. Having impressed in Turin for a while now, a new challenge could be what he needs as his contract draws to a close.
West Ham United have punched above their weight for two seasons in a row now and are on course to play in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals this week. However, they have struggled in the league in recent weeks and have dropped plenty of points.
A major drawback the Hammers face is their overreliance on Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen in the attack. The former is their target man upfront, who carves open opposition defences with his direct running. The lack of a viable alternative to the Jamaican has been a core weakness in the Irons’ squad for some time now.
That can be addressed in the summer should they move for Belotti, who will be a free agent in the summer. Securing European football for a second season will aid their cause in landing the Italian marksman. The 28-year-old is an excellent finisher and is used to leading attacks as a target man. Add to it, his intelligence and link-up ability, and the Hammers will have a real player on their hands.
West Ham United, to that end, have reportedly made a three-year contract offer for Belotti. But their hopes of landing the striker will depend on whether the English side can see off Atletico Madrid. The Spanish giants are UEFA Champions League regulars and can offer Belotti a better stage to perform at. He could act as an excellent replacement for Luis Suarez and thrive in Diego Simeone’s rigid formation.
West Ham have been long term admirers of Belotti, and landing him will certainly hand Moyes more options in attack ahead of the 2022/23 season.
