West Ham and Aston Villa have both been told that Torino defender Raoul Bellanova is not for sale, according to La Stampa (via TuttoCagliari.net).
The two Premier League clubs have enquired about the Italian international’s availability but they have been told in no uncertain terms that he is ‘unsellable.’
Torino only signed Bellanova from Cagliari for €7m last year, but he has been the subject of a €15m (£13m) bid from Roma recently.
There were reports that the right-back would be offloaded if a bid of around €25m (£21m) was received but Torino’s president Urbano Cairo has decided to take the player off the market.
Why were West Ham pursuing Bellanova?
The Irons were hoping that Ben Johnson would sign a new contract so that he could provide backup for Vladimir Coufal on the right-hand side of defence.
However, Johnson eventually decided to turn down a renewal and he subsequently left the London Stadium to join newly promoted Ipswich Town on a free transfer. A replacement is therefore required.
Have other right-backs been targeted?
West Ham did enter discussions with Southampton about Kyle Walker-Peters. It is believed that talks were held about a potential swap deal involving Flynne Downes, but it does appear negotiations have broken down.
Walker-Peters has less than twelve months left on his contract and the Hammers don’t think he is worth as much as Downes. A deal could be revived but, for now, the player exchange looks dead in the water.
In addition to Bellanova and Walker-Peters, there is interest in Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka. His current deal is also up next year but the Red Devils are reluctant to let him leave on the cheap.
It doesn’t seem as if Julen Lopetegui’s side are close to bringing in a new right-back at this moment in time.