West Ham United are reportedly eying a hazardous swoop for Spezia Calcio striker M’Bala Nzola, who is enjoying a career redeeming shot at the Serie A side.

What’s the word?

According to Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, the Irons and Newcastle United have both approached Spezia after showing an interest in Nzola, only for a potential deal to lure the 24-year-old away from Italy to be rebuffed by the player.

Premier League interest failed to turn the French forward’s head toward leaving the Liguria-based outfit, having only signed for Vincenzo Italiano’s side permanently this summer following an initial half-season loan spell.

Nzola is focused on succeeding with Spezia for the time being after aiding their successful promotion bid last term with six of his seven career Serie B goals, before netting a brace away to Benevento Calcio last weekend to open his top-flight account.

Tuttosport claim interest from West Ham and Newcastle following an exclusive interview with Nzola’s agent Didier Pingsi, who noted that his client’s experience in Serie A will ensure he’s ready to take the next step of his career.

“I think M’Bala must now consolidate his experience in Serie A,” Pingsi noted. “Then he’ll be ready for the five most important European championships: England, France, Spain, Germany and precisely Italy.”

A hazardous move

West Ham moving to sign Nzola in January would be a pursuit riddled with potential hazards, as the 24-year-old has only ever tackled four Serie A fixtures and appeared set for a future in the third-tier of Italian football until Spezia registered the Frenchman on a free transfer.

Nzola is now enjoying a redeeming moment of his career under Italiano, who sought to bring the striker back after opting against acquiring his services at the end of his loan spell only for Trapani to release the £810,000-rated attacker just a month ago.

The 6ft centre-forward’s time as a senior player had been met with relentless challenges before joining Italiano's side, too, with L’Equipe noting how Nzola struggled during the six-years spent between leaving academy side Troyes at 18 and joining Spezia permanently this summer.

Nzola is now being revered in Italy, with Metropolitan Magazine lauding the forward for his enviable physical strength and for connecting the entire Spezia attack.

Those two attributes would play out nicely for David Moyes at West Ham by handing the Scot another Michail Antonio-type, but the signs of Nzola making a successful switch to the Premier League are thin and far between.

AND in other news, David Moyes is “worried” by a West Ham blow that a Manuel Pellegrini favourite can capitalise on.