West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola hopes to close a deal for Livorno attacking midfielder Alessandro Diamanti.

The Mirror says Zola has flown out to Italy to complete a deal for Diamanti.

Diamanti is so highly thought of at Upton Park that he is seen as a 'cross between Paolo Di Canio and Zola himself'.

They believe Upton Park fans will take to the eccentric 26-year-old just as they took Di Canio to his hearts because of his skill and outlandish behaviour in equal measure.

Diamanti's 17 goals helped Livorno return to the top division of Italian football last season. The player's performances even drew interest from Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.