Slaven Bilic had set his heart on taking Simone Zaza to West Ham and was constantly calling the striker, urging him to make the move.
West Ham managed to reach an almost total agreement with Juventus to sign the Italy international and it did for a time appear that he would be playing his football at Upton Park this season.
But Zaza chose not to join the Hammers, deciding instead to stay and fight for his place at Juventus and being given further encouragement when Fernando Llorente left for Sevilla.
According to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato, West Ham did not fail to sign Zaza for a lack of effort.
Indeed, it is claimed Bilic called Zaza and told him he would be his first choice striker at Upton Park, making it clear how desperate he was to sign him.
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But Bilic's pleas fell on deaf ears as Zaza turned down the move.
West Ham were not the only English side to try to sign Zaza as Arsene Wenger's Arsenal made a last minute move for his signature.
But, unable to sign a replacement because the transfer window had closed in Italy, Juventus asked for an eye-watering €30m, which Arsenal refused to pay.
