Why West Ham should reignite their interest in Armando Izzo
Back in the summer of 2018, a report from talkSPORT (h/t The Sun) had claimed that West Ham were lining up an £8.5million deal for Italian centre-back Armando Izzo, who was then plying his trade with Genoa in the Serie A. However, a move to the Premier League failed to materialise for the defender, who eventually switched boats to join domestic rivals Torino.
Profile
Armando Izzo rose through the youth ranks of Napoli but never made a senior competitive appearance for the club. He spent time on loan at Triestina in the Serie C before being transferred to Avellino, whom he helped secure promotion from the third-tier to Serie B in the 2012-13 season.
The centre-back featured as a regular starter for Avellino in the second tier in the following campaign, with Izzo’s impressive displays prompting Genoa to snap him up in 2014. He established himself as a quality defender in Serie A over the course of his four seasons at Genoa, registering 101 appearances across all competitions.
Izzo then joined Torino and went on to enjoy an exceptional debut season at his new club. He scored 4 times in 37 league appearances to guide them to a 7th-place finish in Serie A. Torino narrowly avoided relegation last season but Izzo has continued to blossom into one of the best low-key centre-backs in Italy.
Izzo would be a quality addition to West Ham’s backline
West Ham were in desperate need of bringing in defensive reinforcements this past summer after conceding as many as 62 goals in the league last season. The Hammers had been linked with plenty of centre-backs throughout the transfer window but eventually ended up signing Craig Dawson on a season-long loan deal.
Dawson does fit the bill as an experienced defender in the Premier League but is only seen as a temporary solution to what has been a long-standing defensive crisis at the London Stadium. The 30-year-old hasn’t been at his best in recent years, suffering relegation from the top-flight twice in the last three seasons.
The Hammers should, therefore, look at a permanent solution at centre-back when the market reopens in January. They needn’t look beyond one of their previous targets, Armando Izzo. The 3-cap Italy international has been a consistent performer for Genoa and Torino in the Serie A. He has made 167 top-flight appearances in his homeland.
Read More
- Why West Ham should reignite their interest in Olivier Ntcham
- Why West Ham should reignite interest in Serhou Guirassy in January
Verdict
With Angelo Ogbonna not getting any younger at 32 and Fabian Balbuena often lacking consistency, West Ham need to find an accomplished partner for Issa Diop. Armando Izzo might not be among the most high-profile names in Italian football. But he certainly has the experience to make the transition to English football.
The Italian still has several years left in his prime at 28 and the Hammers must make a renewed attempt to land the Torino star in January.
