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Adriana Garcia 7y

Valencia weighing up loan move for West Ham's Simone Zaza in January

Valencia may make another attempt to bring forward Simone Zaza to the club on loan in January, according to the club's sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch.

Valencia had wanted to add Zaza, 25, to their squad in the summer but failed to agree a deal with Juventus over the transfer of the Italy international and he instead joined West Ham on a season-long loan in August, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

However, Garcia Pitarch is hoping to make a fresh bid for Zaza when the transfer window reopens in January, with the player having fallen out of favour at West Ham.

"Zaza is a player that I tried to sign this summer at all costs but I couldn't achieve it because his arrival meant [then Valencia player] Andre Gomes joining Juventus," he told Superdeporte. "Andre wanted to go to Barcelona and hence our three negotiations with Juventus for their players [Mario] Lemina, Hernanes and Zaza ended."

Zaza, who has made just five Premier League starts this season, has yet to score in 11 appearances for West Ham.

Valencia have struggled in front of goal, scoring only 19 times in 14 La Liga games this term.

The biggest hurdle in bringing Zaza to Valencia is the player's high wages, according to Garcia Pitarch.

He said: "Basically the biggest challenge is that the salary that he has at West Ham is absolutely exorbitant, but that could be negotiated. I don't know what the coach thinks about this, but if we could reduce his wages, he is a player that we can evaluate."

Valencia, coached by Cesare Prandelli, have won three of their 14 La Liga games this season and go into their match at Real Sociedad this weekend sitting 17th in the standings.

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