West Ham have received a promising boost in their hopes of signing Juventus striker Simone Zaza, according to Gazza Mercato.
With Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew all sidelined through injury, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is eager to return to the transfer market for additional reinforcements in the attacking third.
And Zaza’s father, Antonio, has admitted that his son wants to seal a move to the London Stadium, where he scored the winner for Juventus in a 3-2 friendly victory over the Hammers earlier in August.
Zaza was expected to sign for Wolfsburg this summer, but Antonio Zaza revealed that the Bundesliga club changed their contract offer upon the 25-year-old’s arrival in Germany, which led to the deal collapsing – subsequently reigniting West Ham’s interest.
Antonio Zaza told Gazza Mercato: “Simone went to Germany with his best friend to see the situation for himself, but we found on the table a contract proposal very different from that envisaged at the beginning.
“West Ham is a welcome solution, something more concrete. We must see what Juventus do, but shortly we will have news.
“It is a solution we take very seriously.”
Antonio Zaza’s words will be music to the ears of Hammers fans, and indeed Slaven Bilic, who has seen serious injuries to key players mess with his plans at the beginning of the new season.
However, with just over a week remaining of the current summer transfer window, Bilic will be eager to find a solution to his issues up front – ideally before the Hammers travel to Manchester City on Sunday.
Transfermarkt.com value Zaza at £12.75m and the striker still has four years left on his Juventus contract.
Meanwhile, Bilic has his eyes on another striker – one who might be a better option than the likes of Zaza, who does not have Premier League experience.
