West Ham United are expected to busy in the coming weeks, and have reportedly put Torino striker Andrea Belotti on their transfer radar.
The Hammers are likely to sign another striker, and Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira has claimed that they are keen to sign Belotti, and are willing to spend €40 million on the player.
The club have already confirmed that Marko Arnautovic has joined CSL side Shanghai SIPG, and though they are close to signing Maxi Gomez, they have been linked with a move for Belotti as well.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side released Andy Carroll and sanctioned the sale of Lucas Perez to Alaves earlier this summer, so they need more forwards if they are to compete with the top six sides next season.
Andrea Belotti: Profile
Belotti started his senior career at AlbinoLeffe and soon earned a move to Palermo in 2013.
A couple of years later, he switched to Torino, and has been an instrumental player for them. Last season, he smashed in 15 goals in 37 Serie A outings.
Belotti’s impressive performances for Torino earned him his first senior cap with the Italian national team in 2016, and he has gone on to make a total of 22 appearances for the Azzurri.
What will Andrea Belotti add to West Ham United?
The 25-year-old is an out-and-out striker known for his poaching instincts inside the box. He is commendable in the air, which makes him a threat in set-piece situations.
It’s Belotti’s aggressive approach that stands out more than anything else. A natural goal-scorer, the forward once claimed that he studied Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero. A look at his style on the pitch shows a certain similarity.
The Italian needs to improve on his passing, and ability to hold the ball, as the Hammers play a very pragmatic style under Pellegrini. His work ethic and tenacity, though, are top-notch, so that will hold him in good stead at the London stadium.
Belotti hasn’t played in the Premier League, but has all the ingredients to succeed. Considering he is still only 25, his peak years are ahead of him, so he would be a top signing if the Hammers can get hold of him.
