Andrea Belotti, Europe’s once sought after striker, is currently a free agent in the transfer market. Following his contract expiration at FC Torino this season, the 28-year-old has already been linked to a few clubs in the market. The Italian striker scored. 8 goals in 22 matches in his injury stricken Serie A season.
Andrea Belotti could be a perfect fit at West Ham United, out of all the clubs that he has been linked to. The Premier League club are in desperate need of a striker to compete with Michael Antonio for a spot in the playing 11. They have been in talks with Gianluca Scamacca over a transfer. However, the French giants, PSG, were also in talks with the Italian striker. Needless to say, the Hammers would have no chance in front of the French champions. Although the arrival of Hugo Ekitike in the French capital would give some breather to David Moyes.
What will Andrea Belotti bring to West Ham?
West Ham finished an impressive league campaign last season. The Hammers finished 7th in the Premier League table. Michail Antonio has been the sole designated number nine in David Moyes’ starting lineup, but it hasn’t stopped their rapid ascent on the field.
The Jamaican international has scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists in 62 appearances in the league since the start of 2020/21, propelling West Ham to a seventh-place finish last year. At 32, Antonio has little time left to perform at his current level, and Moyes has already demonstrated his desire to add some cover and competition in the attack. However, Jarrod Bowen, who scored goals left and right last season, is available to Moyes. The Englishman contributed to 22 league goals by the end of the previous season. Despite that, Moyes still needs a center forward to lead the attack. They have been linked to a number of players, including Scamacca, Armando Broja, and others. This is where Andrea Belotti comes into the frame. Belotti scored an incredible 26 goals in 35 league games while also dishing out four assists to his teammates in the 2016–17 Serie A season – he was less productive the following two years, but he still managed to score double digits in the league, demonstrating his propensity for producing goals on a regular basis for a team that was having trouble. He went with his tradition even last year, as Torino saved themselves from relegation by a mere 5 points. In front of the goal, Bellotti had his fair share of contributions, in his eight years in Serie A, Belotti scored a staggering 106 goals and added 30 assists in 270 matches.
What makes him the perfect man?
The Italian has a good aerial presence. He is often used as a target man and the 28-year-old also possesses the ability to link up play. He does so by creating spaces for his other teammates to run into. Belotti’s record of accumulating assists reflects his ability to be a good team player at the top. His dominating physique also helps him to win headers both defensively and offensively. Belotti’s style would complement Bowen’s as well. The winger has been in fine form since last season and Belotti’s ability to make the best out of his attackers is well known. His off-the-ball work rate is outstanding as well, since he likes to press the opponent, which has been one of the key factors in getting success in England’s top flight of football. His on-the-ball talent holds up well to Moyes’ strategy as well. A player of his calibre who is reaching the pinnacle of his career will undoubtedly be wanting to move on, especially in light of the recent setbacks his team has experienced. Since the Euros last year, his country’s team has experienced severe difficulties. Being eliminated from the World Cup for the second time in four years would undoubtedly prompt the Azzurri’s to seek a reconstruction. Belotti will be eager to build on his strong performance this year in order to establish himself as Italy’s top center-forward by the winter.
Despite his enormous physical size, Belotti is a complete center striker who can dribble opponents with quick feet and technique as well as brush them away with his force. Belotti needs to refine his technique further as he occasionally makes mistakes. He is already fully matured as a target player, but he still has room for growth as a connecting striker. At 28 years of age, Belotti can easily give three and a half years of top-flight service. Considering he will cost zero pennies and his wage demands are also meager, West Ham should be looking at the possibility of landing the Italian in their squad.
