€40m Offer For Atalanta Striker Rebuffed As Hammers Prepare For The Worst

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West Ham United are set to return to Sampdoria with an improved offer for Colombia striker Duvan Zapata claims Calciomercato.

The Hammers opening bid of €40m was rejected by the Genoa-based club who currently loan the player to Atalanta. That hasn’t deterred the Londoners interest in the journeyman 27-year-old.

After Marko Artnautovic, 29, shocked the Premier League outfit by telling them he wanted a move to Guangzhou Evergrande this month, Manuel Pellegrini moved swiftly to identify suitable replacements for the Austria international.

Despite West Ham telling their renegade striker, he will not be sold this month the club is bracing itself for Arnautovic to force a move away from the London Stadium. It’s been reported that the temperamental forward is willing to go on strike to make sure he gets his way.

In readiness for that outcome, the Hammers want Zapata to move this month. The Colombian is joint top-scorer in Serie A after a run of 14 goals in his last eight matches saw him equal the current season tallies of Sampdoria’s Fabio Quagliarella and one Cristiano Ronaldo.

Zapata fuelled talk of a move when he said recently “I used to support one team for each league. I liked Inter colours, but I was in love with Thierry Henry’s Arsenal. In Colombia, we love Premier League. Who knows? One day I could play there”.