West Ham must sign Maxi Gomez as replacement for Marko Arnautovic
By Quinn Allen
The Hammers have been chasing Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez as one of their primary targets up front to replace Marko Arnautovic…
West Ham was previously linked with Maxi Gomez back in January when Marko Arnautovic voiced that he wanted to leave the club for China, but now that he has finally sealed his move to Shanghai SIPG, it’s time for the Hammers to go all in for Gomez.
West Ham is reportedly close to signing Gomez for a release clause of close to 45 million euros from Celta Vigo, according to talkSPORT.
Their most expensive signing previously was Felipe Anderson from Lazio last year, which cost the club 36 million euros. Gomez would be the priciest signing for West Ham ever, but given his resume last season in Spain, it looks well worth every penny. The Uruguayan bagged 13 goals and registered five assists in 35 appearances in league play last year for Celta Vigo, who finished in 17th place.
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West Ham is light on strikers after Arnautovic leaving for China and parting ways with Jamie Carroll. Their only veteran striker as of right now is Javier Hernandez, so it’s definitely a priority to sign one or even two more strikers.
Valencia, who finished fourth in the La Liga last season, is also very keen on the 22-year Gomez. The Spanish side has offered less money for Gomez than West Ham, so hopefully, that could sway him to England. He is currently one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe, and after an impressive campaign last year, the hope is he can make a big impact at London Stadium if they can solidify this signing.
Gomez would be West Ham’s fourth signing, after coming to terms with Villareal playmaker Pablo Fornals, and goalkeepers David Martin and Roberto Gago. Fornals is a wonderful midfielder who should make an instant impact for the Hammers, but he will need some quality up front who can finish.
Gomez has voiced that Valencia is enticing to him because he would have the opportunity to play Champions League football, but it still remains to be seen which club will win the sweepstakes for the 22-year old. The fact that West Ham has offered so much money to activate his release clause should mean something to Gomez though, along with the chance to play in the Premier League. arguably the best league in Europe.
He would instantly become the main man up front for the Hammers, which should also be attractive for Gomez.
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It will be interesting to see which club he ends up at, but West Ham must do everything physically possible from here on to entice Maxi Gomez to become a Hammer next season. They desperately need his talents up front.