West Ham United were interested in signing Federico Chiesa in the winter transfer window, according to Calciomercato.
West Ham were in search of attacking reinforcement and reportedly had eyes on Chiesa, but Liverpool refused to sell without signing a replacement.
The Hammers instead picked up Adama Traore for a paltry sum. He has experience working with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Traore has not particularly lit up the London Stadium, but he provides strong attacking depth that will be useful as West Ham look to climb out of the relegation zone.
As for Chiesa, his search for game time continues, and it is almost certain that he will leave Merseyside this summer.
West Ham might reconsider a push for the Italian international (51 caps), especially if they can get his club to budge on its €15-€20 million valuation.
The 28-year-old has managed three goals and three assists in 27 appearances (634 minutes), showing he can still deliver at the highest level.
However, committing significant funds to Chiesa would represent a gamble West Ham can ill afford.
The winger’s career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries, preventing him from building sustained momentum or consistency.
Even during his time at Liverpool, flashes of quality have been overshadowed by fitness concerns and limited availability.
For a side fighting to stabilise results, reliability should be a priority.
There is also the concern that Chiesa has lost the explosive acceleration that once made him one of Europe’s most feared wide players.
Without that blistering pace we saw as he claimed the 2020 European Championship with Italy, his ability to beat defenders and stretch opposition backlines has diminished.
West Ham already have rotational depth through Traore, who suits Nuno’s direct attacking approach at the London Stadium.
Rather than investing heavily in a risky option, the Hammers would be wiser to pursue younger, more dynamic wide talents with greater long-term upside.