Source: Telegraph
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola targeting Sergio Floccari
Technical director Gianluca Nani, also an Italian, has earmarked Floccari as the man to lead the line for West Ham next season. The 27-year-old forward has scored 12 goals in 27 games for Atalanta this season and is on the fringes of the Italian national squad. [LNB]Zola already broke West Ham's transfer record in January when he splashed out £9 million for Brescia's Savio and is ready to spend even more in a bid to strengthen West Ham's striking options. [LNB] Related ArticlesUpson praises Italian styleZola hails West Ham spirit after dogged pointWest Ham and England striker Dean Ashton out until April following ankle surgeryWest Hams Valon Behrami ruled out for six monthsWest Ham set to sign Savio NserekoWest Ham manager Gianfranco Zola facing striker crisis ahead of Chelsea returnThe east-Londoners have long-term worries over the fitness of Dean Ashton and on-loan duo David Di Michele and Diego Tristan leave the club at the end of the season. [LNB]Floccari has a number of suitors including Juventus, Roma and Villarreal, but West Ham are confident they will be able to knock the price down as they did when they signed Savio. [LNB]Atalanta are realistic about the demand for Floccari and are welcome to offers. Speaking to the Daily Mirror sporting director Carlo Osti said: 'Sergio has now reached his full potential as a footballer in this league. We have an arrangement with the player and his agent that he will be sold at the end of the season if someone is interested.'[LNB]Former West Ham striker Tony Cottee has backed West Ham's England contingent to learn a lot and improve as players while on international duty. Goalkeeper Robert Green, defender Matthew Upson and striker Carlton Cole are all in Fabio Capello's England squad for games against Slovakia and Ukraine. [LNB]Cottee who has seven England caps said on the club's website: 'It is a release to get away from your club and be with the best players in the country. You are living, eating and playing with them and it's just a great experience. [LNB]'To go away and be a part of the squad with those types of players makes you a better player and a better person. I'm all for it and hopefully the England team will do well. I always say that if England are going to win anything then they need three West Ham players in the squad,' he added. [LNB]
