West Ham’s summer-long search for a striker which has taken them on a meandering trek around Europe was finally nearing completion on Friday night after Simone Zaza flew to London to complete his medical.
The Italy striker will initially move to the London Stadium on loan, although West Ham have signed a deal which means they will pay Juventus a club record £24m in 12 months’ time for the 25-year-old.
Having made a £15m bid for Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson before last season had ended, the co-chairman David Sullivan made it his priority to attract a proven goalscorer to the club this summer but offers for Michy Batshauyi and Alexandre Lacazette were rebuffed.
A £26m move for the Milan striker Carlos Bacca then dragged on for weeks, with the Colombia international eventually opting to stay in Italy. But with Andy Carroll ruled out for up to six weeks and his record signing André Ayew unlikely to play again this year after suffering a thigh injury, Slaven Bilic’s desire to sign a new forward has heightened.
The disastrous defeat by the Romanians Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League qualifiers for the second season in succession highlighted West Ham’s lack of options up front, with only the Argentinian Jonathan Calleri – signed on loan from Deportivo Maldonado earlier this month – and the former Manchester United forward Ashley Fletcher as the only recognised strikers in Bilic’s squad.
“With the Zaza situation it looks very likely to happen and should happen today,” Bilic said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City. “As far as I know the deal is agreed between clubs. The personal terms are also agreed and he is due in London today, so we hope it will be done.
“It’s very positive and it’s a boost. We’ve been trying for a long time now to get a top-quality striker and he was always mentioned.”
The Croatian was even forced to resort to throwing the central defender James Collins into his attack as West Ham chased the game on Thursday and he admitted they have not had the best luck in pre-season. “With strikers, we are short now because of injuries but those players will come back – some of them very soon,” he said. “André Ayew is due back at the end of November, so there is no point in adding too many players in that position.”
The Player of the Year Dimitri Payet, who scored nine goals last season before representing France at Euro 2016, has so far made two appearances this season but could be in contention to start against City along with Manuel Lanzini.
The captain, Mark Noble, should be available after he was rested against Astra, although another new signing – Havard Nordtveit – is set to miss out.
“Nordtveit got a kick on his foot again last night after he got a kick against Chelsea,” said Bilic. “He’s very likely to be out on Sunday.” “Mark Noble should be all right. With Payet and Lanzini we’ll also know tomorrow. Maybe one of them. After this game we have an international break for a couple of weeks and we need them. If there is no risk, we’ll use them.”
