According to Calcio Mercato, Andrea Pinamonti is drawing a lot of interest in the transfer market. The Sassuolo striker is hitting his stride as his skills, experience, and timing all come together. At 26, he's a proven forward, scoring consistently in a league where good number nines are hard to find.

Pinamonti's current season proves that. His goals and solid play are helping newly promoted Sassuolo have a great first half, improving their chances of staying up. Calcio Mercato notes, Another season, another confirmation.” Pinamonti, along with Domenico Berardi and Armand Laurienté, is part of a well-balanced and strong attack, but it might not last much longer.

Prime Years and More Responsibility

Born in 1999, Pinamonti is said to be entering the prime of his career, a period of full maturity. ” His personal growth appears to be aligning with his career, leading to more responsibility and better performance. Despite a minor injury, he’s already scored four goals in 14 Serie A games, which is impressive given the league's tactical challenges.

Sassuolo doesn't have to sell him since his contract runs until 2027. Coach Fabio Grosso trusts Pinamonti as the main attacker, and he’s delivered. He understands space, timing, and what it takes to succeed in Italian soccer—skills that are valuable beyond Serie A.

Transfer Market Pressure

Not surprisingly, his form has gotten attention. Calcio Mercato reports that “the Italian is hotly contested in the transfer market and could change teams as early as January: Lazio and AC Milan are after him in Serie A, and West Ham in the Premier League.” Any deal would likely start with a loan, followed by an option or obligation to buy, showing both his growing value and the cautious approach.

Pinamonti’s value has increased since his successful loan at Genoa, where the option to buy was set at €15 million. Now, with more goals under his belt, there are more teams interested. West Ham stands out, especially since they need more firepower during a tough season.

West Ham and Italian Ties

Calcio Mercato paints a grim picture of West Ham, calling it “a very difficult season and a historic moment.” Since Potter was replaced by Espirito Santo, there have been some improvements, but goals are still hard to come by. With Fullkrug likely leaving, they need a dependable striker.

Pinamonti could be a good fit. The report says, “In London, they’re reportedly looking at Pinamonti, reviving a tradition of Italian strikers in claret and blue that stretches from Di Canio to Scamacca.” That history is important at West Ham, where fans like forwards who have grit, smarts, and personality.

The competition is tough. Lazio and AC Milan also see Pinamonti as a solution to their own attacking problems. Milan, in particular, wants a reliable number nine who knows the league well. Whether Pinamonti moves in January or June, his next step feels important.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri says his players need to take Sassuolo seriously and thinks Christopher Nkunku needs to lighten up.

Allegri’s Milan will play Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday. The Rossoneri are tied for first place in Serie A with Napoli, both with 31 points.

Milan-Sassuolo: Allegri’s thoughts before the game

Allegri talked about the upcoming game at a press conference, mainly giving updates on injuries: “Leao won’t play tomorrow, but he’ll be back for the Supercoppa. Fofana is back, but he won’t play since he hasn’t practiced. Athekame is in the squad, Gimenez is working on his recovery, and we hope he’ll be back soon,” Allegri said, according to Milan News.

“Sassuolo can cause problems, so we have to be careful and organized when defending. If we’re not focused, they’ll make things tough, and the game will get harder. We need to play well in every way tomorrow—technically, physically, and mentally.”

Christopher Nkunku played against Torino but hasn’t scored in his first ten Serie A games.

“He needs to relax. We all wanted him here,” Allegri said.

“His teammates and the club believe in him. I told him he needs to smile more. If he does, things will get better. He’s a good player with skill, and I’m sure he’ll do great things.

“He’s been working hard. In Turin, he helped set up the third goal by making a good run, which opened space for Pulisic. He’s very skilled and can score.”

Allegri has said that Milan’s main goal is to get into the Champions League, while Inter and Napoli are the favorites to win Serie A.

“They finished first and second last season, so they’re probably still the teams to beat,” he said.

“We’ve brought in a lot of new players. We’re Milan, so we need to aim high and do our best, knowing that we need to get back into the Champions League. We need to take another step forward tomorrow. We’re at the top of the table, but we still have a way to go to reach our goal of Champions League qualification.”

Is it good for Milan not to be playing in Europe?

“I’d rather play every three days in the Champions League. That’s what we’re working towards,” Allegri said.

“People talk about the pros and cons, but I think the key is to have a strong team with good players, a strong club, and an environment that can handle games every three days. That’s what makes a top team. I want to be in the Champions League, and that’s what we’re trying to do. I don’t think playing often makes you prepare worse, but it’s possible.”

Santiago Gimenez is still injured and hasn’t scored in Serie A yet. Will Milan sign a new striker in January?

“I need to find solutions with the players we have,” Allegri said.

“The club will watch the market, but we’re focused on tomorrow’s game. Then, we’ll think about the Supercoppa.”

Is Ardon Jashari ready to fill in for Luka Modric if he needs a rest before the Supercoppa?

“Jashari has improved a lot. I’ll decide based on how he looks in tomorrow’s game,” Allegri said.

“After the game, we’ll see who’s tired, who’s fresh, and who’s hurt.”

Milan have won their big games this season but have lost points against weaker teams. Fikayo Tomori has lost focus at times, but Allegri isn’t blaming him.

“It’s not just Tomori. It’s a team thing. We let in two goals against Torino, Pisa, Parma, and Cremonese,” he said.

“We need to do better in certain situations. We can’t be down two goals early in the game. It happens sometimes, but we need to avoid it.

“This team works hard and does what we ask. They have a goal: to stay at Milan and make a mark on the club’s history,” the coach added.

“We need to stay focused and ignore the noise. The goal is to be in the top four by May 25 because Milan needs to be in the Champions League next season.”