Football News

West Ham favourites for striker as Mourinho switch muddles transfer picture

West Ham United have emerged as surprise front runners to sign Torino striker, Andrea Belotti this summer, according to reports in Italy.

The East London outfit are among a host of clubs interested in the 27-year-old, but Torino Granata (via Sport Witness) believe they have the ‘best chance’ of landing his signature in the upcoming transfer window. Among other clubs strongly linked with the Italian are Serie A outfit, Roma.

Amid rumours that Maurizio Sarri was set to take over in the managerial hotseat at the Stadio Olimpico, it was believed that he would make Belotti a prime transfer target upon his arrival at the club.

However, the monumental appointment of Jose Mourinho in the Italian capital has somewhat dispelled these rumours, with the Portuguese manager set to take the reigns at the beginning of next season.

As a result of this, the Italian publication have cited sources close to them as saying that David Moyes’ side are the favourites to land Belotti’s signature.

The 27-year-old striker is out of contract in June 2022 and Torino may need to offload him this summer to prevent him leaving for free next season.

He has been a revelation for the Turin outfit since his switch from Palermo, scoring 12 goals and recorded seven assists in the Serie A this season.

In addition, he has also represented the Italian national team on 32 occasions, scoring 11 goals and is likely to be included in their squad for the upcoming European Championships.

West Ham have enjoyed a superb season in the Premier League so far this season, and look on course to be playing some form of European football at the London Stadium next campaign.
Should they land Belotti’s signature, their new-found success is only likely to continue.

Others are on Moyes’ transfer radar

Aside from their hunt for a striker, there a number of other positions that the Hammers are believed to be monitoring for the upcoming transfer window, one of which is a replacement for Lukasz Fabianski.

As reported by ESPN, the Hammers are rumoured to be the favourites to sign West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, with Sam Allardyce’s side on the brink of relegation from the top flight.

In addition, Moyes and his coaching staff are also believed to be in the hunt for a new central defender, to bolster their options at the back next season.

They have been strongly linked with Nottingham Forest defender, Joe Worrall and will fight off interest from Norwich City to bring the 24-year-old to East London.

 

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