A West Ham United flop played a major role as Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea suffered a blow in their hopes of Champions League progression on Tuesday night.
While Niclas Fullkrug looks destined to leave the London Stadium during the January transfer window, another big-money striker signing who struggled to live up to his hefty price tag is proving that failing in the Premier League does not necessarily equal the end of the road.
Gianluca Scamacca exploded back into life with Atalanta following his £22.5 million move away from West Ham United in the summer of 2023.
Photo by Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu via Getty ImagesFormer West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca powers Atalanta past Chelsea
After netting only eight times in his one and only season in claret and blue – although it is fair to say David Moyes maybe could have done more to accommodate the mercurial Italian – he struck 19 in his debut campaign for an Atalanta outfit who made him front and centre of their attack, in every sense.
And a first Champions League goal would come his way when West Ham’s bigger rivals Chelsea made the trip to Bergamo.
Why do you think Niclas Fullkrug failed?
And who do you want to replace him at West Ham?
“I think it might make sense to make a change.
“Many would probably agree that Niclas is a classic penalty-area striker, basically made for the Premier League. [But] in retrospect, you have to say the transfer didn’t work. There’s no sugar-coating it.
– agent Thorsten Wirth
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A lovely flighted cross, and a simple back-post header. For a centre-forward who has made his name for explosive, highly-technical finishes, this was strangely straightforward.
Scamacca’s equaliser just before the hour cancelled out Joao Pedro’s opener. A late Charles de Ketelaere winner, meanwhile, means Atalanta are now up to third in the Champions League table.
Chelsea are now eleventh, with work to do if they are to secure automatic qualification to the quarter finals.
That was Scamacca’s 23rd goal in 58 Atalanta games. A tally which looks all the more impressive when you consider he played only one match last season due to a serious injury.
Only time will tell a similar post-West Ham revival awaits Fullkrug in 2026.
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