West Ham have shown some interest in Giovanni Simeone, however they have only proposed a €1M season-long loan with an option to buy and Cagliari do not intend to let the striker go at those conditions, Sky Sport reported.
The Hammers are looking for a new forward after Sebastian Haller recently joined to Ajax and, while the Sardinians have not totally ruled out the possibility of selling El Cholito, the English club would have to significantly improve their offer to acquire him.
The Rossoblù are poised to make some changes to the front-line and are targeting Simone Zaza, who has been directly requested by Eusebio Di Francesco that coached him with good results at Sassuolo. However, one attacker would have to leave before making an addition: Leonardo Pavoletti could move directly to Torino in a swap and he has also been linked to a number to clubs, including Benevento, Fiorentina but also Inter and Juventus, as the team is pretty much shopping him. A departure of Simeone is instead considered more unlikely, the publication added.
Our view
Cagliari could use some new pieces up front as the alternance between Simeone and Pavoletti has not worked out and Joao Pedro has been the only one to produce. Simone Zaza might not move the needle much, but he has familiarity with the coach and he is better suited to come off the bench than Pavoletti. Simeone had a strong start with five early goals but a COVID infection halted his momentum and he has not hit the net since late October, which is becoming hurtful.