West Ham United have reportedly turned down an offer of €20m (£17.1m) plus add-ons from Inter Milan for striker Gianluca Scamacca.
The 24-year-old joined the Hammers for Sassuolo last summer in a deal rising to £35.5m, penning a five-year contract until June 2027.
However, Scamacca endured a difficult 2022-23 campaign at the London Stadium, scoring just three goals in 11 Premier League starts, and his debut season was curtailed in March after undergoing knee surgery.
Scamacca has been tipped to leave West Ham this summer after just one season and return to his native Italy, with a number of Serie A clubs believed to be interested in his services.
The 11-cap Italy international revealed in July that he would be keen to make the move "home" and join Jose Mourinho's Roma this summer.
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A potential switch to Juventus has also been mooted, while Inter are the latest team to enter the race for his signature.
Simone Inzaghi is still in the market for a new centre-forward after talks to recruit Romelu Lukaku on a permanent deal from Chelsea failed to materialise.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Inter came forward with an opening offer of €20m plus add-ons to sign Scamacca, but West Ham have rejected the proposal.
Romano adds that Scamacca is keen to move to San Siro and Inter are set to return with an improved offer in the "next days" worth up to €25m (£21.4m).
West Ham are understood to be holding out for at least €30m (£25.7m) for the striker who they signed just 12 months ago, but both clubs are expected to reach an agreement during a new round of talks.
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West Ham are currently on the lookout for new midfielders, but the possible sale of Scamacca would likely force David Moyes to delve into the market for a new striker to provide competition for Danny Ings and Michail Antonio.
Furthermore, Romano claims that Inter are focused on a deal to sign Scamacca as they have paused talks with Arsenal over a proposed deal for Folarin Balogun.
The Italian giants initially regarded the USA international as their top attacking target, but they now consider him took expensive, with the Gunners believed to value the 22-year-old in the region of £50m.
Balogun enjoyed a successful loan spell in France with Reims last season, scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals in 37 appearances, but he has been tipped to leave the Emirates Stadium as regular first-team football is not guaranteed under Mikel Arteta.
Inter are also said to have identified Lille attacker Jonathan David as a potential target, but like Balogun, the Nerazzurri consider the Canada international too expensive.
Oliver Thomas
