Top transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that a loan move worth €1m (£900,000) from West Ham for Cagliari striker Giovanni Simeone broke down because the Serie A side pulled the plug and needed his services.
Speaking on his ‘Here We Go’ podcast, the journalist and transfer news maestro opened up on West Ham’s failure to secure a new striker in the January transfer window but confirmed that the Irons did indeed make an approach for the 25-year-old.
Romano confirmed that the Hammers did not want a deal to include a proposed obligation to buy that Cagliari were insisting upon, creating an impasse which was impossible for both sides to dissolve. He explained:
A possibility for West Ham was Giovanni Simeone. He plays for Cagliari, but he is not having a good season. West Ham were offering a loan with an option to buy, and they offered €1 million as loan fee.
But Cagliari said no just because he is their starter. They said no to a loan and wanted an obligation to buy, but West Ham said no and it collapsed, but he was one of the possibilities for West Ham.
The Argentine striker, son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, was one of many shortlisted striking options for whom a deal did not appear to be viable for the Irons.
Read West Ham Verdict
Wriggling out of an obligation to buy is smarter than it seems, as Simeone’s Serie A season appears to be mediocre at best.
The Argentina international has just five goals in 18 league appearences this season, and it has taken him 164 games for the likes of Cagliari, Genoa and Fiorentina to hit just 49 goals.
West Ham should aim higher.
