Report: Zaza set for West Ham switch
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Faced with an early-season shortage of strikers, West Ham is on the verge of luring Juventus forward Simone Zaza to the London Stadium.
After Hammers gaffer Slaven Bilic confirmed his interest in Zaza Wednesday, multiple sources reported that the Italian international is expected to arrive in London on Thursday night on an initial loan move that features a £25-million option to buy.
Zaza, 25, isn't the only striker Bilic is monitoring, with Manchester City forward Wilfried Bony also sparking the Croatian's interest after summer signing Andre Ayew picked up a thigh injury in his Hammers debut against Chelsea.
Related: Bilic admits West Ham's keeping tabs on Bony, Zaza
"We have a couple of players we are trying to do a deal with. We have injuries and we are short of numbers," Bilic admitted ahead of the club's Europa League qualifier second leg versus Astra Giurgiu on Thursday.
With Ayew facing four months on the sidelines after an operation to correct the injury, and Andy Carroll hampered by a knee issue, the need for a striker has become a dire requirement for a club competing on four fronts.
West Ham's desperation for a proven goal-scorer matches Zaza's desire for first-team appearances. Languishing behind Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata, and Mario Mandzukic last season with the five-time defending Scudetto champ, Zaza made just 19 Serie A appearances, and only five starts for Max Allegri's lot, bagging five goals paired with a tally in the club's Champions League run.
While Bilic has yet to officially confirm the move for the 14-time capped purveyor of celestial spot kicks, his fondness for the forward couldn't be any clearer.
"We were linked with (Zaza) last year and he is a top player. We were in contact with him last year and will see what happens."