In a recent print edition, La Stampa (via Tutto Cagliari) claimed that West Ham United are among the clubs eager to land Torino defender Raoul Bellanova. It has been stated that the Hammers would have to compete with Aston Villa and Roma in the race to sign the Italian full-back.
Bellanova’s Impressive Form In Serie A
Bellanova had a decent campaign at the Italian club as he put in a series of impressive displays on the right side of their defence. The 24-year-old scored one goal and grabbed seven assists in 39 matches for Torino last season across multiple competitions.
The Rho-born talent has caught the eye at times with his performances on the right flank and did well to average 1.0 tackles, 0.8 clearances, 0.9 shots, 1.4 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game in Serie A. He has even been accurate when distributing possession after completing 85.4% of his attempted passes in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Italian club will expire in the summer of 2027 which could make it difficult for the Hammers to snap him up on a cut-price deal later this year.
Should West Ham United Boss Julen Lopetegui Move In For Bellanova?
Bellanova is a solid tackler of the ball and doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed. He is a decent crosser of the ball and generates some power with his shot attempts from long range.
The Italian sensation can engineer some promising chances for others around him from the right flank and is a good dribbler with the ball as well. He is primarily a right-back but can also fill in as a right-sided wide player if needed.
We can expect Bellanova to bring more quality to West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui’s backline. He has what it takes to serve as an ideal replacement for Vladimir Coufal at the East London club.
At 24, Bellanova has got a bright future ahead of him and could be a decent signing for the Hammers in the long run. However, he would need time to prove his worth in Premier League football. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting someone with his skillset, so Lopetegui should focus on moving in for him this summer.
