West Ham have inserted a very interesting clause in the Gianluca Scamacca deal as the striker departs to join Atalanta.
Who would have thought there would be a longer running West Ham departure saga than that surrounding Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
Well Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca somehow managed it. But that finally looks set to come to an end this weekend.
West Ham paid an initial £30.5m to sign Scamacca from Sassuolo last summer.
But the move simply did not work out as he or the Hammers would have hoped.
Illness, injuries and a clear lack of research on the type of striker Scamacca is and what he would bring to the team left both the player and David Moyes frustrated.
The Italy forward has been linked with a third of the clubs in Serie A since changing agents midway through last season.
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West Ham insert very interesting clause in Gianluca Scamacca deal as striker departs to join Atalanta
The battle for his signature narrowed between Roma and Inter Milan of late but neither made offers which were deemed acceptable by West Ham.
Then, as reported by Hammers News, Atalanta entered the race thanks to Man United furnishing them with over £72m for Danish sensation Rasmus Hojlund.
It has been widely reported that Atalanta have met West Ham’s asking price and payment terms.
Gianluca Di Marzio states the Bergamo club will pay £22m plus another £5m in easily achievable add-ons – a record deal for Atalanta.
And the Italian transfer reporter has confirmed Scamacca has agreed to join Atalanta after Inter refused to raise their offer.
Now Hammers News sources have confirmed there is another element to the move.
West Ham have inserted a very interesting clause in the Scamacca deal as the striker departs to join Atalanta.
Clause offers West Ham protection from Scamacca being flipped by Atalanta but suggests club fear another Haller situation
Scamacca was not at the club’s Europa Conference League celebration dinner in midweek because he has been in Italy ahead of the move to Atalanta.
Some West Ham fans are disappointed to see Scamacca leave, feeling they saw enough to suggest he could be a potent striker for them in the right system.
Many have also pointed to the fact West Ham and Moyes shipped out Sebastien Haller before watching him break all manner of scoring records at Ajax.
But West Ham have at least had the foresight to insert a 10 per cent sell on clause in the deal with Atalanta, we have been told.
Scamacca has signed a five-year deal with Atalanta. But should he be sold on before then – as often happens with middle tier clubs in Italy – West Ham will get 10 per cent on top of the £27m coming their way.
So West Ham will be hoping the 6ft 5in star sets Serie A alight and attracts a big money move which would see them make a profit on the original deal.
The clause offers West Ham protection from Scamacca being flipped by Atalanta. But it also suggests the club fear another Haller situation.
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