A surprising rumour regarding West Ham striker Mauro Zarate was reported prior to Saturday’s draw with Sunderland. According to The Mirror, Zarate, who has spent much of this season on the bench at West Ham, is a target for fellow high-flyers Southampton.Mauro Zarate only signed with West Ham just six short months ago, but it’s widely rumoured that the Argentinean and also Chilean striker has been unhappy in his time thus far at West Ham. When he signed, he was widely thought to have been our big signing to partner Andy Carroll, yet we then acquired Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho, whose collective outstanding performances have not left much playing time for Zarate (or even Carroll, for that matter.)
In November, the papers reported that an agent for Zarate was open to offers from other clubs, forcing Zarate to deny he had an agent and that he was not looking for a transfer. More recently, the man said to be his UK Representative, Barry McIntosh, told Goal.com that “Mauro is very happy in England and happy at West Ham, but he wants first-team football, and he has the Copa America on his mind.” He continued on to say that “West Ham are not keen for him to move, but they have accepted that a good offer would be hard to turn down.”
There’s rarely smoke without fire, so perhaps there could be truth to the Southampton rumour – but would Southampton be a suitable place for the striker? And, even more importantly, would West Ham sell a player to a direct rival in the race to stay at the top of the table?
Southampton started the season brightly, but have had a slump in form in recent games, taking just one point from a possible 15. Striker Graziano Pelle slammed in six league goals in the beginning of the season, but has scored just once since October. It makes sense that Southampton would wish to add to their squad to revert back to their thunderous form from the beginning of the season, and Zarate could certainly bring something to their side.
Zarate has played in just seven league games this season, and none for 90 minutes, yet has managed to score two impressive league goals and contribute one assist. He’s a talented striker but unfortunately for him there just isn’t an argument for playing Zarate over a fit Diafra Sakho.
If there’s truth to the rumour, Southampton could make good use of Zarate, but it would be a shame for West Ham if they were to lose him prior to the African Cup of Nations. West Ham are set to lose Diafra Sakho, Alex Song, and Cheikhou Kouyate as they represent their countries in the aforementioned cup, and it means the team selection will be opened up in their absences.
This is a huge opportunity for Zarate to showcase his talent and prove himself as an option for Allardyce, but it remains to be seen if he’s willing to stick around and take the risk.
It will be a shame if zarate leaves west ham already,he is a good player
Keep Zarate -quality player , he needs to learn how to play with the team, which he will. Plus scores soo many goals he can’t be left on the bench….
This is absolute rubbish.With Sakho,song and Kouyate gone for he African nation cup he will be needed….one paper writes it and everyone picks it up and runs with it…..as for an agent he doesn’t actually have one a such…he uses one of his brothers as his agent…and I don’t see any qoutes from them…as for this Barry MACINTOSH well tha’s a load of bollocks too….he ain’t going any where!