Opinion: Wolves’ loss is West Ham’s gain as David Moyes handed £34m boost

Photo by Joris Verwijst/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images

West Ham United are finding out the hard way that taking the next step – breaking free of their chrysalis while completing a transformation from a top-six side into one capable of securing Champions League football – is easier said than done. 

The Hammers reportedly submitted bids for Darwin Nunez, Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha during the January transfer window.  

Since then, Nunez has joined Liverpool for an initial £64 million, Manchester City splashed out £42 million for Phillips while Raphinha finally secured a dream £49 million switch to Barcelona.  

Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali confirmed last week that West Ham had put submitted a £34 million offer for Gianluca Scamacca too. But the powerhouse Italy international appears to be holding out for Paris Saint-Germain, having agreed personal terms with the Ligue 1 champions. 

David Moyes, then, would be forgiven for wondering whether the glass ceiling that separates West Ham from the Citys and Liverpools of the world is triple-glazed. A bulletproof forcefield keeping the Hammers on the outside looking in. 

West Ham United’s Gianluca Scamacca hopes aren’t over

Scamacca is not a PSG player yet, however. In fact, he might never be.  

Because, according to L’Equipe, via GFFN, talks between Les Parisiens and Sassuolo have stalled. Like a rusty Vauxhall Nova spluttering into a layby.

PSG are simply unwilling to meet the Serie A club’s asking price, and have turned their attention to a cheaper alternative; Benfica’s John McGinn lookalike Goncalo Ramos. 

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Fabrizio Romano backs up those claims, adding that Scamacca’s price-tag is too rich even for PSG’s blue blood.

Now, Ramos is hardly a like-for-like alternative. The latter is an old-school, physical centre-forward who thrives on battling centre-halves. The former, meanwhile, is more of a number ten than a number nine; An intelligent, cerebral footballer who models his game on the ‘space-invading’ Thomas Muller. 

According to MaisFutebol, Wolves and Nottingham Forest have also held talks with Ramos this summer. PSG’s sudden interest is likely to elevate the Portugal U21 international’s price-tag to a level well beyond the men from Molineux, however. Or the City Ground, for that matter. 

And West Ham will be watching developments closely. With PSG threatening to give up on Scamacca and prioritise Ramos instead, Wolves’ loss could be West Ham’s gain. 

Photo by Joris Verwijst/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images
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