West Ham United could turn their attention towards Giovanni Simeone as David Moyes continues searching for a new striker.
According to Corriere di Verona, as quoted by Sport Witness, West Ham United are chasing Giovanni Simeone over a summer move as David Moyes looks to add a competitive striker to his squad.
West Ham United’s somewhat disappointing end to the season is attributed to multiple factors. Their inability to challenge for a spot in next season’s UEFA Europa League and the failure to beat Eintracht Frankurt in the semi-finals of this season’s competition meant they are only good enough to play the Europa Conference League next term.
Having to play the third tier European competition means the Hammers still have to go through a long campaign and need strong reinforcements to improve their squad. This term, West Ham thoroughly struggled after failing to sign a striker, something David Moyes wishes to address.
West Ham relied on Michail Antonio for most parts, with the Jamaican international having to play in every competition as their leading frontman. With no viable deputy available in the squad, Antonio endured a difficult campaign, carrying the burden of scoring the goals.
Jarrod Bowen was West Ham’s top scorer, and Moyes thus wants to sign a reliable striker to share some of Antonio’s burden. West Ham were keen on signing Eddie Nketiah, but he may sign a new deal at Arsenal, which will now force the Hammers to hunt for a new forward.
The Londoners are also looking into the Italian market, with several options to consider. Andrea Belotti is someone Moyes remains interested in, along with Gianluca Scamacca. The latter will be the ideal target for West Ham, but he will be an expensive acquisition.
The Hammers have other requirements, such as a central defender and a midfielder, which may not let them spend too much on a striker. West Ham’s interest in Nketiah and Belotti was understandable, as both would have been free agents in the summer.
However, West Ham are now chasing a financially viable option in Giovanni Simeone, who finished Serie A as the fourth-best goalscorer with 17 strikes for Hellas Verona. The 26-year-old Argentine striker has had a few prolific seasons with mid or lower table clubs and would be keen to play for one of the bigger teams in the continent.
Simeone spent the season on loan at Verona from Cagliari, with the former an the option worth €10.5 million to buy him outright. The Serie A side are expected to exercise the option and may look to sell him for a profit. Newcastle United are also keen on signing the Argentine forward.
The report reckons that Verona could demand nearly double the outlay, meaning West Ham may have to shell out around €20 million to sign Simeone. The 26-year-old striker has proved his worth in Italy, and Moyes might be interested in bringing him to England.
Whether Moyes trusts the striker to improve his squad remains to be seen, but he could be a gamble that could pay off. Simeone could be a good deputy for Antonio and may surprise the manager by bringing his prolific form into the Premier League.