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Because Gianluca Scamacca has not been a success since his expensive arrival at West Ham United last summer, there has been talk that he could return to Italy in the next transfer window.

The €36m purchase has only found the back of the net seven times this season, with just three of those coming in the Premier League, and that’s why some, including Giovanni Carnevali, Sassuolo’s CEO, wouldn’t be shocked if he went back to Serie A soon.

The club chief was interviewed by Gazzetta dello Sport at the weekend, and among the questions asked was once involving the future of the West Ham striker.

Having sold the likes of Scamacca, Gianluca Raspadori and Hamed Traoré last summer for a combined €100m+, Carnevali was asked if he could see his ex-striker return to Italy on loan.

He said: “I haven’t spoken with Gianluca, but I wouldn’t be surprised. For Juventus or any other big Italian club, he would be an opportunity. There aren’t many number nines with the characteristics of Scamacca in Serie A.”

That last sentence is exactly why West Ham wanted him last summer, managing to beat Paris Saint-Germain to his signing, but it simply hasn’t worked out for the 24-year-old.

Far too expensive to currently be considered as a full-time transfer for Serie A sides, a loan would make far more sense, perhaps with an option to buy attached to it; something Italian clubs are very fond of these days.

Just ask West Ham and Torino when it comes to Nikola Vlasic.