According to La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolò Schira, West Ham have identified Torino striker Andrea Belotti as their replacement should negotiations for Maxi Gomez not be successful with Celta Vigo.
The report claims West Ham are ready to pay Torino £36 million for the services of Belotti and will offer the striker £60,000 per week in wages on a five-year deal at the London Stadium but it remains to be seen if the Serie A outfit are open to letting him go at that price.
The Italian hitman has scored 79 league goals in 201 games. Belotti hit his best form during the 2016-17 season when he scored 26 goals in 35 league games for Torino which resulted on a £90m valuation being slapped on his head by his club to keep the top European teams at bay.
Last season he scored 17 times in 39 appearances despite from suffering from two knee injuries which dogged his season.
Hugh, I like this guy but I think we must be looking to sign both. We were in for Gomez before Arnie got his offer so Gomez is not a replacement for Arnie. I think Belotti could be Arnie’s replacement.. I really hope that the club realise to make the top 6 we need Gomez and a replacement for Arnie who is fast, strong and pacey. All this talk of top 6 will mean nothing unless we sign a top 9, a replacement for Arnie, and a top box to box midfielder. Rondon imo is a back up striker if we do not sign Gomez.
Let’s hope he is not another za za
Forgot about Zaza. 🤬
Belotti’s signed a contract extension in recent weeks, not that it’s here nor there!
Is there any truth to this or are we still flogging the dead Gomez horse?
I desperately hope not for this reason.
There are very few successful Italians who have played in the Premier League since it began. If you look at today’s league, loads of Spaniards and French players, a decent amount of South Americans but about 8 Italians currently. Okaka at Watford the only Italian striker and he doesn’t play.
The transition from Serie A to the Premier League is chalk and cheese and it particularly seems to fail with attacking players. The pace is just too fast. Zaza was supposed to be class at the time but he admitted he couldn’t hack it.
Totally against this deal if true.
Belotti, technically is more accomplished than Gomez, haven’t watched him recently but depending on the effects the knee injuries will have on availability he could be s good option.
Now we are panicking because we have no forwards so I wonder who we will end up with. We need at the very least 2 forwards .
Prefer him to Gomez to be honest.