In a recent report, TuttoSport revealed that West Ham United are among the clubs hoping to land Juventus defender Federico Gatti this summer. It has been mentioned that the Hammers would have to compete with Everton and Newcastle United in the race to land the Italy international this off-season.
Gatti’s Impressive Form in Italian Football
Gatti enjoyed a decent campaign at the Italian club as he managed to put in a lot of solid displays for them on the defensive third of the field. The 26-year-old scored four times in 36 matches for Juve last season across all competitions.
The Rivoli-born talent was a rock at the back for the Turin club based on his average of 1.0 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per game in Serie A. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball from inside his half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 86.1% in the Italian top flight (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Italian club will expire in the summer of 2028 which could make it difficult for the Hammers to sign him on the cheap in this transfer period.
Is Gatti A Good Fit For West Ham United Boss Julen Lopetegui?
Gatti is a tough-tackling defender who can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed and can play his way out from the back.
The Italian talent can even use his towering 1.90m frame to win some 50-50 duels for his team inside his half. However, it remains to be seen whether he can cope with the high intensity of Premier League football if the Hammers manage to get him on board this summer.
Gatti would inject more bite and steel into West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui’s defence. He has what it takes to compete for a regular starting spot at the East London club next season.
All in all, the Hammers should consider bringing him on board as he would be a good fit for their needs this summer. Gatti will undeniably help West Ham compete across all fronts in the future. At 26, the best is yet to come from the Italian defensive ace, so Lopetegui should go all out to land him soon.
