Roberto Piccoli only joined his new club last month but he has now told them he wants to leave already so he can sign for West Ham.
The stunning twist comes after the board told Hammers News they wanted two forwards this summer transfer window when it was exclusively revealed Callum Wilson was joining West Ham last month.
When revealing to Hammers News that Wilson would be signing for West Ham last month, the top spokesman for the club’s hierarchy stated: “I feel we should sign two.
“We expect to sign Callum Wilson, but that might not be enough in my opinion.”
The new Premier League season is expected to be the most fiercely competitive for years.
So relying on two ageing and seriously injury-prone strikers is a major risk for West Ham, who are being tipped to battle relegation by most pundits and journalists.
With what is at stake and how badly the Hammers have struggled for the last 18 months – which have seen only 15 wins from the club’s last 57 Premier League matches – it could be a gamble with devastating consequences.
Worried West Ham owners want two forwards
Many fans have been against the signing of Wilson given he turns 34 next season and spent the equivalent of three full 38-game seasons out injured during five years at Newcastle.
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But the free transfer signing of Wilson on a pay-as-you-play and score contract would make sense if it were in addition to the Hammers bringing in a younger forward too.
Niclas Fullkrug was the latest forward signing to be hit by the West Ham striker curse as he spent two thirds of his debut campaign out injured.
So West Ham signing one of the most injury-plagued players in the Premier League in the shape of Wilson is asking for trouble.
If West Ham are continuing their search for a younger striker targeted by Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay then there has been some encouraging news.
Roberto Piccoli celebrates during Cagliari v Fiorentina - Serie A
Photo by Alessandro Tocco/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Because there has been a major development on the future of a player reportedly on their list – Roberto Piccoli.
The Hammers have been linked with a host of younger, more dynamic strikers who can lead the line for the club in the coming years.
From Evann Guessand to Emanuel Emegha and Italian forward Piccoli, to name but three.
Now there has been a striker stunner as Piccoli tells the club he joined just last month that he wants to sign for West Ham.
A spokesman for the club’s owners told Hammers News earlier this week that Potter has not been warned to lower his ambitions in the transfer market, despite the arrival of Wilson suggesting the opposite.
Like many fans, Hammers cult hero Carlton Cole is urging West Ham to sign a younger striker alongside Wilson.
Striker stunner for West Ham after Wilson
Now they have an alleged Potter target literally waiting for the move, according to new reports in Italy.
The 6ft 3in 24-year-old striker perfectly fits the profile of player Potter and Macaulay want to sign.
Nearly 10 years Wilson’s junior, he could also be West Ham’s striker for years to come.
That’s what he wants too, it seems.
Piccoli has found his path to Atalanta’s first team blocked by the likes of former Hammers striker Gianluca Scamacca in recent seasons.
He came through the Atalanta academy but has been sent out on a series of loans, culminating in a spell with Cagliari last season where he scored 11 goals in 40 games.
There was an option to buy in that loan deal set at €12 million (£10m).
Roberto Piccoli celebrates during Cagliari v Venezia - Serie A
Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images
Piccoli tells club he joined last month he wants West Ham move
The former Italy Under 21 striker impressed so much that Cagliari triggered that option last month as Piccoli signed a four-year contract.
It seems that may have only been with a view to making a quick profit, though.
Earlier this week Tuttomercatoweb and Gazzetta dello Sport reported that West Ham were stepping up their pursuit of Piccoli and had overtaken Benfica in the race to sign him.
Now CagliariNews24 and Get Italian Football News are reporting that not only are Cagliari open to doing a deal – despite having only made his move permanent last month – but the player himself wants the move.
It is reported that the Sardinians wanted a fee of around £25m for Piccoli but could now accept even less as ‘West Ham’s interest grows increasingly concrete’.
That’s because ‘Piccoli is very interested in the possibility of joining West Ham’ and is pushing for the move, which would double Cagliari’s money even at £20m.
The reports state the striker has told his club about his desire to leave and if he makes that more formal then ‘things can move quickly’.
“If he puts pressure on Cagliari, an agreement could be reached for a lesser fee than £25m,” the report states.
The report goes on to claim Piccoli has not handed in a transfer request yet but ‘would be happy with a move to West Ham’.
With the transfer window closing in four weeks, West Ham have a huge decision to make.
Although this one sounds like a no-brainer if ever there was one.
The Hammers would be getting a powerful, dynamic and young forward for a bargain price by modern standards.
And better still he actually wants to join the club.
West Ham need to follow the example of Potter’s former club Brighton who have signed top young striker talents to go alongside experienced senior forwards like Danny Welbeck.