In a recent print edition, Tuttosport claimed that West Ham United are keeping tabs on Torino full-back Raoul Bellanova. It has been stated that the Hammers could face competition in the form of Aston Villa and Manchester United in the race to land the Italian defender in the summer.
Bellanova’s Impressive Rise In Italian Football
Bellanova has managed to catch the eye at times with his performances at the heart of the Torino backline. The 23-year-old has scored one goal and grabbed five assists in 30 appearances for the Italian outfit this season across multiple competitions.
The Italian sensation has been a decent performer on the right flank as he is averaging 0.9 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 0.8 clearances, 0.9 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in Serie A. He has even been accurate when distributing possession after completing 84.6% of his attempted passes in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Italian club will run out in the summer of 2027. Therefore, it would be difficult for the Hammers to get him on board in the summer transfer window.
Is Bellanova A Decent Fit For West Ham United?
Bellanova is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn possession back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition are on the offensive.
The Italian talent can strike the ball with power and accuracy from long range and can create some decent chances for his teammates in the final third. He can make a few driving runs with the ball in the opponent’s half.
We can expect Bellanova to add more quality to West Ham‘s first XI. He has what it takes to fight for regular first-team football at the East London club. Thus, the Hammers would be wise to make a move for him in the summer as he would be a great fit for their needs in the long run.
At 23, the best is yet to come from Bellanova, so David Moyes should consider moving in for him. However, only time will tell whether the Italian talent can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League.
