Aston Villa and West Ham United have faced a setback in the race to sign Raoul Bellanova, with Serie A club Torino not interested in selling the 24-year-old full-back.
According to a report by La Stampa, as relayed by Tutto Cagliari, Aston Villa and West Ham United have been interested in signing Raoul Bellanova from Torino in the summer transfer window. However, the Serie A club will not entertain any offers to sell the 24-year-old full-back, thus dealing a blow to the two Premier League clubs.
The rise of Raoul Bellanova at Torino
Raoul Bellanova has seen his stock soar in the last 12 months. A native of Rho, he spent all his formative years with AC Milan, graduating from the Serie A club’s youth division half a decade ago. He took some time to find a stable footing in his career, spending a few seasons on loan.
The 24-year-old finally found stability in his career last season after joining Torino, immediately becoming a pivotal figure for the Granata. Bellanova has turned out 39 times thus far for the Serie A club, chipping in with one goal and seven assists. No full-back had more assists in Serie A than the Torino defender.
Meanwhile, Raoul Bellanova’s progress at Torino has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. Premier League outfits, in particular, are keen on signing the Italian full-back in the summer transfer window, with Aston Villa and West Ham United among his prospective suitors.
Premier League move on the cards?
Aston Villa’s interest in Raoul Bellanova is understandable. The Villans have been scouring the market for a right-back for a right-back heading into the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Matty Cash. The Torino defender has thus emerged as a viable target for Aston Villa.
As for West Ham United, they have lost Ben Johnson as a free agent, while Vladimir Coufal is on the wrong side of 30. So, it behoves West Ham to sign a right-back, bringing Bellanova into the picture. However, they have faced a setback in the race to sign the 24-year-old Italian full-back in the summer transfer window.
Torino will not entertain any offers for Bellanova and will keep him at the club beyond the summer transfer window. So, Aston Villa and West Ham United must look elsewhere to bolster their right-back options in the coming weeks.
