West Ham United have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Genoa forward Krzysztof Piatek, according to Football Italia.
The Polish international has been in splendid form this season and it is believed that the Italian outfit are holding out for a fee of €40 million and a further €5 million to €6 million in add ons, with Milan tipped to be leading the chase.
The Hammers are likely to sell Marko Arnautovic, so they’ll have the money to spend. Should they return with an improved bid for Piatek?
Why West Ham should return with a better offer for Piatek
West Ham United have seen a steady improvement following the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini this season.
But, the Hammers have been disrupted by injuries, especially in the attacking department, with players like Andriy Yarmolenko, Andy Carroll, Javier Hernandez and Manuel Lanzini missing out a chunk of the campaign due to spells on the sidelines.
And the likely departure of Arnautovic could add the final blow, with the Austrian international keen on a move to China. This could severely hurt West Ham’s hopes of doing well in the second half of the campaign as the Hammers, more often than not, were reliant on Arnautovic’s scoring prowess.
Therefore, the Londoners are in definite need of a new attacker this month and Piatek, in that regard, appears as a good candidate as they look to replace Arnautovic.
Following his move from Cracovia Krakow last summer, the Genoa forward has emerged one of the most prolific attackers in the Serie A this season, scoring 13 goals in just 19 league matches – a tally only bettered by Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Polish international, much like his compatriot Robert Lewandowski, is labelled as a complete striker, who can work hard for his team and also relies on his offensive positioning. His movement and precise runs in behind the defence combined with his excellent finishing have already made him a feared name in the Serie A.
But, it’s Piatek’s physicality which allows him to keep hold of the ball, a trait that would be useful in the astute Premier League. He has been dispossessed by an average of only once per game this season.
Therefore, Piatek certainly has the quality cut it in the English top flight and certainly at West Ham, where his characteristics tune well with the Hammers’ attacking yet pragmatic approach in the final third.
And with Arnautovic on the verge of leaving, the Irons should definitely return with an improved bid for the Polish international as they aim to revamp their attacking department in this winter transfer window.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored