West Ham are reportedly set to revive their interest in Cagliari striker Giovanni Simeone, who is currently starring on loan with Hellas Verona.
The Hammers tried to sign the Argentinean striker in the summer but were eventually unable to agree on a deal with Cagliari. Instead, Hellas Verona signed him for an initial £1.3m loan fee with an option to make the move permanent for £10.2m at the end of the season.
According to The Express, West Ham will look to hijack Hellas Verona’s potential permanent deal for Giovanni Simeone but a move would be difficult to do in January.
Simeone, 26, has been in blistering form since the beginning of the season, netting nine times in 11 Serie A outings. He netted four goals in Hellas Verona’s shock 4-1 win over Lazio before later flooring Juventus with a brace last month.
Giovanni Simeone to West Ham—A top acquisition for David Moyes?
With just 11 games played in the new season, it is far too soon to be confidently instilling West Ham as favourites for a Champions League berth, but their chances of achieving that have been greatly increased. The 3-2 win over Liverpool at the London Stadium before the international break was another feather in David Moyes’ cap as the Hammers boss.
Certainly, Moyes’ calls for further funds to reinforce the striker department are more likely than ever to be heard. Michail Antonio has been excellent again for West Ham with his goal-scoring ability, hold-up play and off the ball work ethic. But one just cannot forget the wretched injury record that has seen him miss significant chunks of games over the last few years.
With Antonio set to turn 32 in March and injury-prone, Moyes cannot gamble having just one recognised number nine in his ranks and should prioritise bolstering his options at the top end of the pitch during the mid-season trading period. This makes Giovanni Simeone an appealing target for the east London club.
Simeone has proven himself in Serie A over the years, featuring for clubs like Genoa, Fiorentina, Cagliari and Hellas Verona. He has impressed the onlookers with his sheer determination, agility and goal-scoring ability this season. The Argentinean has been lethal in front of goal for Igor Tudor’s side as his numbers would suggest.
The 26-year-old does have aggression as well as the finishing skills to thrive in the hustle and bustle of Premier League football. Simeone can undoubtedly be valuable in David Moyes’ bid to add depth in the number nine position by offering the Scottish tactician an able backup for Michail Antonio.
At 26, Simeone is currently playing some of the best football of his career, so he will be a smashing addition to West Ham’s ranks where he could continue to develop into a top poacher under an astute man-manager like Moyes. Thus, the London Stadium hierarchy should go all out to sign the Argentinean international in January.
