So far, and there is still a lot of time for everything to turn around, the experiment involving Gianluca Scamacca and West Ham United hasn’t really worked.
That’s not us being harsh, but simply stating the obvious, as any club spending €36m on a striker will expect a better return of three goals in 16 league games.
Despite this, West Ham have not been put off by Italian(ish) strikers, as they are now interested in Mateo Retegui, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 23-year-old, born in Argentina, recently made his debut for the Italy national team under Roberto Mancini, and has since repaid that trust with two goals in two caps.
Currently contracted to Tigre in Mexico, on loan from Boca Juniors, the striker has caught the attention of a few clubs with his performances, both at club level and on the international circuit.
The Italian newspaper list the many Serie A sides who now have him on their agenda, before adding that there is also a market for him abroad, as Atlético Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt are ‘also moving on Mateo, without even hiding’.
Then, in England, there is the ‘great rival’ that is West Ham, who have ‘already asked for information’, knowing their ‘spending power’ can put any Italian side out of the game very quickly.
As for his value, it’s stated it currently stands between €15-20m, which is relatively cheap in terms of Premier League money.
What appears to be the general consensus is that Retegui could be the one who is ‘decisive’ in his next destination, and there is hope that his newfound love for Italy could ‘turn into a desire for Serie A’ rather than chasing money to London.
Something to keep an eye on.
