West Ham United are believed to be plotting a move for Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca, according to the latest reports.

What's the word?

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Hammers are said to be "preparing" a bid for the Italy international this summer, with the fee set to be in the region of €40m, (£34m) - potentially shy of the Serie A outfit's €50m asking price.

Writing on Twitter about the east Londoners' interest, Romano stated that: "West Ham are preparing an opening, verbal bid around €40m for Gianluca Scamacca. He's in the list alongside Armando Broja, who just joined Chelsea squad in the USA & there's lot of competition. #WHUFC Sassuolo want €50m for Scamacca. PSG, not intentioned to pay that much."

This follows a previous report from 90min that revealed that David Moyes and co had made contact with the Italian side regarding the seven-cap gem - as well as teammate and compatriot Giacomo Raspadori - ahead of a possible swoop in the coming weeks and months.

Arnautovic 2.0

A player also on the radar of Paris Saint-Germain, Scamacca enjoyed a real breakthrough season during the 2021/22 campaign, the £27m-rated ace bagging 16 goals in 36 league games, netting at a rate of a goal every 135 minutes.

Prior to that, the imposing, 6 foot 5 menace had netted eight times in 26 league games while on loan at Genoa, having also worked his way into the international reckoning under Roberto Mancini in recent times.

Dubbed a "complete" player by former Italy U21 coach Luigi Di Biagio, the £3.2k-per-week striker seemingly has all the tools to be a success at the London Stadium, while he also notably ranks in the top 7% for non-penalty goals among those in his position across Europe's top five leagues.

His imposing, forceful presence in leading the line could evoke memories of a certain former Hammers star in Marko Arnautovic, with the pair sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

While the Austrian gem may have been a controversial figure during his time in English football - moving to the London Stadium from Stoke City on a £25m deal in 2017 - the dynamic forward emerged as something of a cult figure following his impressive displays leading the line, despite an eventual sour end to his time at the club.

In just two years with the Irons, the 102-cap international - who has netted 33 times for his country - reached double figures for league goals across each of his two campaigns at the club, while also netting 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 65 games across all competitions in total.

The hope will be that Scamacca - who has endured controversies of his own - can equal or even eclipse the impact of the 33-year-old should he sign this summer, both with his goalscoring quality and his imposing presence on the pitch, with Moyes seemingly set to be able to find his new talisman in the Rome-born brute.

The former Everton boss has previously lauded Arnautovic and spoken about how he helped transform the striker's fortunes during his first spell in charge at the club, with the Scotsman likely chomping at the bit to get to work with his heir apparent, Scamacca.

AND in other news: West Ham closing in on "remarkable" £10m target, it would be a "masterstroke" by Moyes