West Ham United could be facing a case of “what if” in the transfer market, according to a report by Liverpool.com.
The report details how young Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, then playing for Basel, expressed a desire to join West Ham back in 2022. Chelsea was also reportedly on his shortlist.
Despite Calafiori’s apparent interest, West Ham seemingly didn’t make a move to secure his signature.
Since then, Calafiori has enjoyed a meteoric rise. He has impressed at Bologna and even earned a call-up to the Italian national team, significantly increasing his market value.
With a price tag estimated to be around £50 million and Calafiori’s reported preference for Champions League football, a move to West Ham now appears highly improbable. It’s also highly unlikely that the Hammers would sanction such a huge outlay so soon after agreeing to pay £40m for Max Kilman.
Liverpool and Arsenal, both offering Champions League participation, are now considered the leading contenders in the race to sign Calafiori.
West Ham’s decision to pass on Calafiori in 2022 could come back to haunt them, as he could now join a potential Premier League rival competing in Europe’s elite club competition.
The vast majority of players never come to West Ham, it’s not a story that a particular one doesn’t. Some will have improved on a given point in the past, some will have regressed, that’s not a story either. It’s just as true to say this bloke didn’t go to Villa, Everton, Newcastle and to imply that they missed out too. It’s not a story.
Like others I said a few articles back this guy was never going to come to West Ham. I’m sorry but a complete waste of ink
So Simon has written another story about what didn’t happen. West Ham didn’t win the premiership last season. That would be a good story. West Ham didn’t win a cup either. Maybe worth a feature article. I didn’t win the lottery last week. Perhaps you could write about that.
If he had been unfortunate enough to play under Moyes he would probably have his confidence destroyed and be going back to Bologna right now. Nowhere near the euros or Italian national team. Wouldn’t even be spoken about.
Pie in the sky he was never coming to whu.