West Ham have stepped up their efforts to sign Argentine forward Jonathan Calleri, according to Italian source Tutto Mercato Web.
TMW say the Hammers have ‘intensified negotiations’ in the last 48 hours in order to thrash out a deal for Calleri and fend off stiff competition from Serie A side Inter Milan.
Internazionale hold an interest in Calleri but are not prepared to be dragged into a bidding war with West Ham. Sport Witness claim London rivals Tottenham are also interested in signing the young Argentine.
Calleri was signed by Uruguayan outfit Deportivo Maldonado in 2014, for a reported £8.25million, but has been shipped out on loan to Sao Paulo in Brazil. His loan expires on July 31st and, should West Ham reach an agreement with Deportivo, that is when he would complete his move to East London.
The 22-year-old has been touted as the ‘new Carlos Tevez‘, a cult hero among West Ham fans, while Transfermarkt compares the player to Spanish forward Ayoze Perez of Newcastle.
So far this season, Calleri has scored nine times in twelve appearances for Sao Paulo.
