West Ham ‘submit Gianluca Scamacca bid but fall short of Sassuolo valuation with £34m offer’

West Ham have bid over £34million for Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca – but their offer falls short of the Serie A club’s £42.6million valuation of the 23-year-old. 

According to Sky Sports, positive discussions are still ongoing between the two clubs as the Hammers step up their search for a new striker this summer.

Scamacca scored 16 goals in 36 appearances for Sassuolo last season, helping the club to an 11th-place finish in Serie A.  

West Ham are in talks with Sassuolo to sign 23-year-old Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca 

David Moyes is keen on bolstering the Hammers attacking options ahead of the new season 

The 6ft 5in forward was regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Europe when was just 15, but following a number of unsuccessful loan spells he has finally been able to fulfil his potential at Sassuolo.

Scamacca has been capped five times by Italy and often draws comparisons to AC Milan veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic, thanks to his ability to score varying types of goals. 

Along with Scamacca, West Ham also retain a strong interest in Chelsea frontman Armando Broja, with talks between the two London clubs still ongoing over a potential deal for the Albanian. 

West Ham remain keen on a potential deal for Chelsea striker Armando Brojo this summer

But they missed out on the signing of Jesse Lingard after he moved to Nottingham Forest 

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has played down talks that Broja will leave Stamford Bridge this summer, but the 20-year-old is attracting interest from several clubs. 

The Hammers are also waiting on a response from Lille over the potential transfer of midfielder Amadou Onana. However, they’ve failed in their attempt to bring Jesse Lingard back to east London after the England man signed for Nottingham Forest on Thursday. 

Premier League new boys Forest have been busy in the transfer market and trumped West Ham by making a substantial contract offer of £200,000-a-week to bring Lingard to the City Ground.

West Ham’s new Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd could miss the start of the season

So far this summer West Ham have recruited Moroccan centre-back Nayef Aguerd from Reenes, Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes and agreed a permanent deal for goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from PSG.

However, Moyes is sweating on the fitness of new signing Aguerd after the defender limped off with an ankle problem during their 3-1 pre-season defeat to Rangers on Tuesday. 

The club have confirmed there is no sign of a break, however there could be damage to the defender’s ligaments, which makes him a fitness doubt ahead of the start of the new season.