West Ham United have been in contact with Juventus about the potential to sign striker Simone Zaza on loan for the coming season, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. Zaza struggled to break into the first-team in Turin last season after moving from Sassuolo, and could move to the Premier League to get more football.
The Hammers have been looking to sign strikers all summer, and brought in Andre Ayew and Jonathan Calleri in the last couple of weeks. However, Ayew picked up a potentially four-month injury in his debut against Chelsea, while Andy Carroll is out for at least six weeks.
Zaza is one of a number of players being lined up as potential solutions to the growing injury crisis, along with Wilfried Bony from Manchester City. However, Zaza has the potential to be a more long-term solution than Bony, with the Ivorian expected to move to the Chinese Super League in January.
According to Di Marzio, West Ham and Juventus are talking about a deal which could see 25-year-old Zaza moving on a permanent deal in the summer of 2017, following a loan at the London Stadium. The deal would include an obligation to sign the Italian should he make enough appearances this coming year.
After re-signing for Juventus last summer, Zaza started just five games for i Bianconeri and making a further 14 appearances off the bench. In Serie A, he netted five goals – down from 11 with Sassuolo the previous year. He’s been linked with a move away all summer, and could leave Turin for a second time if West Ham finalise a deal before the end of the month.
