Gianluca Scamacca was a 'strange signing' but West Ham will have no regrets | OneFootball

West Ham United won't be regretting the sale of Gianluca Scamacca, despite the Italian international having found goalscoring form since joining Atalanta in the summer, journalist Paul Brown suggested to GIVEMESPORT.

Scamacca spent just one season at the London Stadium, but it was clear pretty much from the off that the £35.5 million signing didn't settle to life in the Premier League. Joining from Serie A side Sassuolo, Scamacca made just 27 appearances for the Hammers, netting eight goals during that time.

Now, having found form once again back in his native Italy, there are some suggestions that West Ham might be regretting letting him leave. But Brown doesn't think that is necessarily the case.

Scamacca in sparkling form in Serie A

It's always a risk clubs take when letting an under-performing player leave, but it's safe to say on the back of his West Ham exit, Scamacca has certainly found form once again. In just 14 outings for Atalanta this season, Scamacca has almost matched his goal tally for the entirety of his spell at West Ham, with the striker having scored six times across all competitions.

That's despite a string of injury problems that have disrupted his campaign so far, with hamstring and abductor problems keeping him out of action for short periods of time. Nevertheless, Scamacca has been playing like a completely different striker to the one that looked out of sorts at West Ham last season.

Antonio claim vindicated after Scamacca exit

The mismatch was something that Scamacca's West Ham teammates themselves were able to pick up on, with Michail Antonio openly criticising the signing while the Italian was at the club.

Speaking on the Filfthy Fellas podcast, Antonio said:

"He is actually quality, he is a quality player. The problem is, he can not play the way the manager wants to play.

"He needs a different type of manager who will let him play with players to come off him and stuff like that.

"You see that, the ball comes to him, and it sticks. But with David Moyes, you have to feed off scraps, be a fighter… and he’s not that."

Deemed a damning indictment at the time, Antonio's claim appears to have been vindicated, given Scamacca left the club just a couple of months later. But despite Scamacca's improved form back in Serie A, it's suggested West Ham are happy with their decision to let him go and don't regret sanctioning his exit.

Paul Brown update - Gianluca Scamacca

When quizzed on Scamacca's form for Atalanta and whether West Ham made a mistake by letting him leave, journalist Brown revealed there was no hint of regret in the Hammers' hierarchy, given the stylistic differences between the player and manager Moyes. Backing up Antonio's claim that Scamacca wasn't the right fit for West Ham, the reliable reporter told GIVEMESPORT:

West Ham eyeing up January action after mixed start

Interestingly enough, West Ham might look to re-enter the market for a striker addition when the January window opens next month. While the Scamacca transfer didn't work out, it's suggested the Hammers are hoping to add more depth to their forward line.

That's according to transfer insider Dean Jones who revealed to GIVEMESPORT Serhou Guirassy was on the east Londoners' radar, with the centre forward having enjoyed a stellar season so far with VfB Stuttgart. Jones hinted that West Ham were just one Premier League side showing an interest, with clubs across the top flight in England hoping to fight it out for Guirassy's signature.

However, despite their intentions to sign the Guinea international, Jones believes the side who can offer Guirassy the best package will likely land his services, given Stuttgart have a relatively attainable release clause in the striker's contract.