Hammers Rue Missed Chance for Calafiori. West Ham United could be facing a case of “what if” in the transfer market, according to a report by Liverpool.com.
The report details how young Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, then playing for Basel, expressed a desire to join West Ham back in 2022. Chelsea was also reportedly on his shortlist.
Despite Calafiori’s apparent interest, West Ham seemingly didn’t make a move to secure his signature.
Absolutely Buzzing | Lopetegui Delighted to Get His Man
Since then, Calafiori has enjoyed a meteoric rise. He has impressed at Bologna and even earned a call-up to the Italian national team, significantly increasing his market value.
With a price tag estimated to be around £50 million and Calafiori’s reported preference for Champions League football, a move to West Ham now appears highly improbable. It’s also highly unlikely that the Hammers would sanction such a huge outlay so soon after agreeing to pay £40m for Max Kilman.
Liverpool and Arsenal, both offering Champions League participation, are now considered the leading contenders in the race to sign Calafiori.
West Ham’s decision to pass on Calafiori in 2022 could come back to haunt them, as he could now join a potential Premier League rival competing in Europe’s elite club competition.
