West Ham Opinion: West Ham should replace Andy Carroll with Roberto Inglese
Back last summer, a report from Sky Sports claimed that West Ham were interested in making a move for Napoli forward Roberto Inglese. However, a move to the Premier League failed to materialize for the 27-year-old Italian marksman and he joined Parma in a season-long loan deal.
Inglese might not be a household name in European football but the towering centre-forward has made a name for himself with his consistently impressive performances in the Serie A.
Plying his trade for mid-table and relegation-threatened sides like Chievo and Parma, the 27-year-old has caught the eye with his powerful presence inside the box and clinical finishing.
After impressing for several lower division clubs in Italy, Inglese earned a move to Serie A club Chievo in 2010 and his stocks soared even higher when Napoli came calling in 2017.
However, he failed to break into the first-team at Napoli and spent time on loan at his former club Chievo last season where he finished with 12 goals in the Serie A.
Inglese has once again impressed for a Parma side that has struggled for goals this term, having already netted 8 goals from 23 appearances in the league.
To put things into perspective, West Ham should reignite their interest in the Italian hitman and make a move for him next summer to replace the underperforming Andy Carroll.
Carroll’s time at east London has been plagued by injuries, and even when he has been fit, the former Liverpool man has failed to deliver the goods on a consistent basis.
Standing at 6ft.2 inches with a towering frame, Inglese is regarded as a hardworking and technically-gifted centre-forward who is noted for his aerial ability and clinical finishing.
A tall, powerful and physically dominating No.9, the Italian has all the attributes to replicate his success in the Premier League.
Inglese is quite fast and agile for a striker of his stature, with his ability to get in front of his marker to meet crosses making him a potent threat from set-pieces.
He is more of an old-school No.9 who relies on his instincts and game-reading abilities to place himself at the right place and at the right time to find the net. Furthermore, he is adept at linking up with his teammates in the final third with short exchanges and subtle flick-ons.
Back by the club’s financial resources, manager Manuel Pellegrini attempted a complete overhaul of the squad last summer with the acquisition of several marquee signings.
Going by how things have shaped up for the Hammers in the Premier League this term, it would be fair to say that the former Man City manager has been partially successful in his efforts to build a formidable squad.
In all honesty, West Ham still need some more reshaping of their squad next summer to challenge for a Europa League spot.
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While Marko Arnautovic has committed his future to the club, signing a replacement for Carroll and Javier Hernández should still be a top priority for Pellegrini.
Although someone like Inglese doesn’t have much experience of playing for big clubs, he has shown enough promise for some for the lesser teams in the Serie A and it would certainly make sense for the Hammers to invest in him next summer.
