Gianluca Scamacca is West Ham’s big signing of the summer, having arrived from Sassuolo for £30.5million.
Remarkably, it’s the first time the club has signed a striker since 2019 and fans have been crying out for a big name up front for what feels like an eternity.
But will Scamacca succeed at West Ham? Will the Italian be a fan’s favourite or a flop? We asked some of our writers for their opinions and predictions on the new No.7.
Will Gianluca Scamacca be a West Ham hero or a failure? Fans make their predictions.
ALEX:
Finally! It’s a striker. West Hams triker history isn’t the best there has been so many flops and seeing an Italian come in from Serie A gives me flashbacks to Simone Zaza. But I am confident Scamacca will not be like Zaza, Paolo Di Canio like might be too far. He is highly rated by so many and he is still a raw talent that needs coaching (he often shoots in the wrong positions) but his decision making can be improved by David Moyes. The gaffer turned Michail Antonio into a top striker so he can do the same with an out-and-out centre-forward like Scamacca.
It is unknown how he will fit in tactically, he is different to Antonio that suggests an adjustment in style which there has been in pre-season as West Ham play a back five to not much success. Fans need patience with Scamacca, he has not played a match yet and will have to go straight in to Premier League action. It could take him time to adjust and I don’t expect him to knock Antonio out the starting XI straight, Moyes will ease him in and give him starts in the Conference League in the first few months. Armando Broja was supposedly his first choice striker but how quickly attention was switched to Scamacca shows Moyes was equally as desperate to get the deal done.
Overall, I think Scamacca will be a success and net double figures in his first year in all competitions. However, I do think it could take him a season until we see him at his best.
JAMES:
Scamacca truly is a statement signing by West Ham, not at least when you consider the competition. The player had suitors such as PSG, Inter Milan and Juventus to this signing, and a player of the calibre and hype has certainly got the West Ham fan base excited.
He has all the traits of a dangerous goal threat. His accuracy, fierce shot and eye for goal helped him to score 16 goals last season. His height and presence in the box will make him difficult to defend against as well.
It is interesting to research the player’s youth career. Having played for Lazio and Roma’s academies, he moved to the Netherlands to join PSV at the aged of 16. Jong PSV developed four future premier league players around this time: Bergwijn, Locadia and Zinchenko. It also developed Joel Piroe, who now plays for Swansea. The front three rotated often, with Scamacca being able to add finishing touches through good service and fast attacks. This will help him at West Ham.
The fee for a player like this is high and a huge risk, but it is one worth taking all the way. Bienvenuti, Gianluca!
LOUIS:
So three years on and we have finally signed another striker – and he could be well worth the wait!
Scamacca is a marquee signing by the Hammers as the likes of PSG were seemingly targeting the Italian striker, which shows the potential that he possesses. I don’t think he will dislodge Antonio from the starting XI immediately, but will gradually earn his way and become our focal point in attack, hopefully scoring many goals on our way to another successful season.
GENERAL FEELING:
Most fans are optimistic about the signing and believe he is exactly what is needed to help share the burden with Antonio. He has already drawn comparisons to the likes of Marko Arnautovic due to his style and his 90s Football Italia inspired announcement certainly has fans believing he can be a star.
We asked our followers on Twitter and the most common answer to how many goals will Scamacca score this upcoming season… 12. That would be a decent return in his first year.