West Ham United are plotting a move to sign Genoa defender Armando Izzo this summer. According to recent reports, the Hammers are working on a move to bring the Serie A centre-back to the London Stadium during this summer transfer period. The 26-year-old was recently suspended from playing football for 18 months and was fined £43,000 last year after being found guilty of match-fixing allegations.
However, upon further review, his suspension was reduced to six months and the Italian has successfully rebuilt his career since then. The Naples-born defender had put in a number of eye-catching displays for Genoa during the course of last season which has not gone unnoticed by other European clubs. Some sources are now claiming that the Italian outfit is looking for a fee in the region of £9m for their prized asset.
Izzo had made 16 appearances for the Serie A team last season and has one goal to his name in the league. It could prove to be a major gamble for the Hammers to opt for a player with such a shady history. Having said that, football is played on the pitch so as long as he can deliver the goods at the London Stadium, West Ham fans will certainly not complain about his previous off-the-field antics.
The East London side were able to claim a 13th placed finish in the English top-flight with a total tally of 42 points after 38 league fixtures last season. West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini will now look to rebuild his squad in this ongoing transfer period in order to bring in some quality players who can help his team challenge on all fronts next term.
The addition of Izzo will undoubtedly bolster Pellegrini’s defensive options ahead of the new season. The Hammers have the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Issa Diop, Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna and Sam Byram competing for a place in Pellegrini’s starting XI. The potential acquisition of Izzo will definitely improve their team significantly and add more competition for places within the Hammers squad.
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The Italian defender is extremely versatile and can operate in a number of different positions across the backline. Izzo primarily plays as a centre-back but can also be deployed as a right-back which makes him a perfect fit for any of his potential suitors. Only time will tell what lies ahead in the future of Izzo and whether he ends up making a switch to the London Stadium in the summer.
