The Hammers could finally have found the striker that they have been looking for with the Guardian reporting that a £24 million fee has been agreed for Juventus striker Simone Zaza, with Sky Sports claiming that he made his way to London last night in preparation for a medical and to finalise the move which would see him break the club’s two week old transfer record, having previously been broken by Andre Ayew.
Sky Italia suggest that the deal may initially be a loan move, but with the £24 million option to buy the forward permanently. The 25-year-old is desperate to leave Juventus having completed 90 minutes on just four occasions in his debut season in Turin. The firey striker will now look to return to his form at Sassuolo that saw him earn the move to the Italian champions as he heads to London. Some fans fear that failure to qualify for the Europa League group stage may put the deal in jeapordy, but there has been no sign as of yet of how that could affect the deal.
The Hammers have tied up one deal though, with Edimilson Fernandes joining on a four year deal for a fee of around £5.5 million according to the Daily Mail. Having been labelled “unsellable” by his former club, Sion, in January, it is an impressive move by the club for the 20-year-old who can play in an attacking role or on the right. Usually a central midfielder, Fernandes was introduced to the home crowd last night as the team fell to defeat in the London Stadium.
Fernandes, cousin of Gelson Fernandes who spent two years at Manchester City between 2007 and 2009, will wear the number 31 shirt and fills a hole in the squad which Slaven Bilic made clear he was desperate to add another midfielder to the ranks before the transfer window slams shut next week. Expected to be available for Sunday’s trip to his cousin’s former club, fans will be excited by the prospect of seeing the Swiss under 21 international.
Reports in the Evening Standard could explain why Bilic was so keen to add another midfielder, as Pedro Obiang could be set for an exit only a year after joining the club for a £5 million fee. AC Milan, Fiorentina and Torino are all said to be chasing the Spanish central midfielder, and the club would demand at least £5 million for him to recoup their money for the 24-year-old.
Obiang has struggled to make much of an impact in claret and blue, despite playing an important role in the start to the season and starting in last night’s devastating defeat. With Serie A experience, it’s clear to see why so many clubs from Italy are chasing him, with his ability clear to see, but he hasn’t settled into life in London. Now all that remains to be decided is the manner of his exit, with West Ham hoping for a permanent sale to offset the signing of Edimilson Fernandes, but AC Milan are amongst the Italian clubs hoping for a loan deal.
Featured Image: All rights reserved by Ryan West.