West Ham could land defender Armando Izzo from Serie A club Genoa for a fee worth £8.75 million, according to talkSPORT.
The sports broadcaster reports on their website that Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini has the 26-year-old on his transfer radar, and could add the centre-back to the recently confirmed signing of Issa Diop, who also operates as a central defender.
Right-back Ryan Fredericks has also been added to the West Ham rearguard on a free transfer.
Izzo was banned from football for 18 months in April 2017 for alleged match-fixing, but made a comeback to Genoa’s first team six months later in October – but only made 16 appearances for the Serie A outfit in the 2017/2018 campaign.
Good move for West Ham?
Izzo has only made 16 appearances for Genoa last season, so he is undoubtedly not going to make much of an impact in the Premier League if Pellegrini does decide to go ahead with his interest.
The Hammers already have a solid central defender in the shape of Issa Diop, so making a move for another defender who has hardly played does not seem like a logical move for a club that want to push up the table.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10
Likely to happen?
Izzo is now available for £8.75 million, and this progression makes a move for him even more likely now there is a price involved.
However, West Ham supporters will percieve him as not being genuine after his conviction for alleged match-fixing and will likely react badly if the notion of a transfer is developed further.
Pellegrini now needs to weigh up whether moving for Izzo would be a risk worth taking, or if West Ham are much better off without an average defender at best.
This is Futbol rating: 5.5/10