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Zaza: Leaving West Ham would be 'personal failure'

Tony O'Brien / Reuters

Rome - West Ham striker Simone Zaza said quitting the club would represent a "personal failure", but indicated he is looking for a way out.

Zaza joined the Hammers on a season-long loan deal from Italian champion Juventus in the summer but has yet to find the net for the Premier League side.

He has recently been linked with a loan move to Napoli, although the Serie A club would have to act quickly - Zaza has played nine games for West Ham and his deal would become permanent if he plays 14 times.

After playing a late cameo role for Italy in a 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Liechtenstein on Saturday, Zaza said: "It's been quite a negative period with my club so I want to use every opportunity to put myself in the spotlight.

"Of course Napoli is a big club, but leaving West Ham would be a failure to me personally."

Napoli is currently awaiting Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik, who is expected to return from a cruciate knee ligament injury in January or February.

Zaza's agent and father Antonio said last week he would be keen to have talks with Napoli who finished runner-up in Serie A last season and is battling to earn a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

"Napoli is Napoli. If they call, I would listen," he said.

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