A handful of centre-forwards have already been linked with a January move to West Ham United, with those reported candidates ranging from the possible – see Manchester United benchwarmer Joshua Zirkzee – to the highly unlikely, a la Ivan Toney.

And to paraphrase one Italian newspaper, if another alleged West Ham United target was deemed ‘unsellable’ in the summer when his club rejected a monster bid worth £42 million, then he is ‘even more so now’.

Just like in the summer, funds are likely to be at a premium for the London Stadium outfit.

Hammers News’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey reported this week that problems remain ‘in terms of having to raise funds to buy’. Cashing in on Lucas Paqueta is a possibility, albeit only for a fee larger than the one Tottenham Hotspur paid to sign Mohammed Kudus back in July.

Even if Paqueta was to be sold in a deal worth around £60 million, it seems that West Ham would be wasting their time shovelling that cash into a briefcase and slamming it down on Inter Milan’s desk.

Because, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, ‘Pio Esposito’s talent is priceless’. In every sense of the word.

Still only 20, Esposito this month became one of the youngest goalscorers in the history of the Italian national team. The baby-faced bagsman rattled home a thumping finish in a 3-1 win over Estonia, on what was only his second cap and his first Azzurri start.

His vast potential is reportedly the reason why Inter decided against signing Rasmus Hojlund before he joined Serie A rivals Napoli from Manchester United. And like with another West Ham-linked, Italian-based centre-forward – Parma’s Mateo Pellegrino is reportedly a target, too – comparisons are now being drawn with the legendary Christian Vieri.

“I’ve known him since he was in the Under-15s, and I can confirm he’s a boy who never shows the wrong attitude,” former Italy youth coach Gigi Di Biagio tells Libero.

“Everyone at Inter believes in him. For me, he’s a mix between [two-time Serie A Golden Boot winner Luca] Toni and Vieri. And those two weren’t playing for Inter at 20 like Pio is today!”

“Pio Esposito? For me, he’s incredible,” agrees reporter Sandro Sabatini, speaking on the Numer One podcast. “To all those who say, ‘He’s only 2005-born, he’s only scored one goal, he’s younger than this one or that one,’ I tell them this; ‘as football lovers, go and watch a match played by Pio Esposito’.

“I get chills. I feel like I’ve found a real number nine. Watching him gives me the same feeling I had when I first saw Christian Vieri play.”

Esposito is under contract at the San Siro until the summer of 2030. After Inter rejected a reported £42 million bid from an unnamed suitor, while also rejecting the chance to swap him for Atalanta talisman Ademola Lookman, it is probably safe to assume that a relatively cash-strapped West Ham will not be twisting those Nerazzurri arms any time soon.

That does not say a new number nine will not be arriving at the London Stadium in the New Year.

Hammers News have been told that Nuno would like to work with Chris Wood again, on the back of his 20-goal season for Nottingham Forest last time out. West Ham are watching Endrick’s situation closely at Real Madrid, in the hope that a January loan could be on the cards.

And, according to Italian reporter Mateo Moretto, Manchester United sub Joshua Zirkzee is in contention too after falling behind Benjamin Sesko in Ruben Amorim’s pecking order.

“I want to give some more information about Zirkzee,” Moretto says on Fabrizio Romano’s podcast. “I want to confirm that, clearly, we are still not sure what kind of road [he will] take.

“There are still some factors to consider. [With] Amorim, it remains to be seen if the hierarchy may change between now and January. But it is clear that Zirkzee wants on the field more. It is clear that if this continues, Zirkzee will look for a solution.

“I can assure you that there are clubs. Premier League clubs are very attentive to Zirkzee’s situation, including West Ham.”

As for a certain England international, Hammers News have been informed that Ivan Toney will not be returning to the Premier League from Saudi Arabia. Not even with a World Cup spot up for grabs.

“He loves it there,” a top transfer source says. “There’s no truth in the rumours about Man United and West Ham. No truth to the Tottenham rumour either.”