Lucca is being linked with a move ahead of the summerLucca is being linked with a move ahead of the summer
Lucca is being linked with a move ahead of the summer | AFP via Getty Images
Crystal Palace and West Ham are said to be in the race for an imposing striker.
West Ham and Crystal Palace are said to be in the race to sign a striker currently impressing in Serie A. Both clubs have been linked with strikers aplenty ahead of the summer, and we already know the Hammers will be in the market for a new frontman.
Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio have both struggled with injury this season, while Danny Ings is headed for the exit door. Evan Ferguson was signed on loan as a stop-gap in the January window, but he does not look like staying put long-term.
Graham Potter will want to see significant changes in his squad this summer, and a striker will be near to the top of his list. Meanwhile, Palace may also move to sign a frontman, needing an alternative to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has been heavily relied upon, while Mateta has also been linked with an exit, although a departure doesn’t seem overly likely.
According to Graeme Bailey, speaking to Everton News, Palace and West Ham are both interested in a deal for Udinese frontman Lorenzo Lucca, with David Moyes and Everton also reportedly pursuing a deal. The 24-year-old frontman, who is a whopping 6ft7”, has scored 12 times in 31 appearances across all competitions this season.
Lucca has been a consistent performer for Udinese, but he did get in trouble earlier this season when he overruled a teammate to take a penalty, an action that his manager, Kosta Runjaic immediately punished despite the striker scoring. He explained afterwards: “We have clear hierarchies with penalty kicks. I didn't like the discussion, they were talking for a long time, he made the decision independently and I preferred to remove him from the field after he executed the penalty, which he took very well anyway.
"It's also not the first time that two players on a team have argued about who should take a certain shot. We'll definitely talk about that during the week. I made this choice because I don't like those who don't respect the rules, so I had to take action. However, all this will be resolved in training and we will focus on our next match.”
Lucca apologised after the incident by simply saying: "I wanted to be a tough guy but I'm a nobody on my own."
The striker is valued at £18.4million by Transfermarkt, and he is under contract until 2028, so it’s likely he would be an expensive target for both West Ham and Crystal Palace, though quality strikers are never going to come cheap, and especially not frontmen who are still young and yet to fulfil their full potential.
The obvious advantage with Lucca is his side, especially with there generally being a concern about strikers adapting to Premier League physicality. That shouldn’t be an interest for the Italian, while he is also known for his pace, which is not a given for a player of his size. Lucca is a three-time Italy international at this stage, while he has been with current club Udinese since 2024 when he joined from Pisa following a loan spell.
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