Mauro Zarate: Some great moments for West Ham, will he be missed?

Mauro Zarate confirmed today that he is leaving the club this week after a mixed spell at the club. Zarate joined us back in 2014, and has floated in and out of the first team since then. He has scored some great goals and produced magic moments, but consistency has been a issue this season.

Zarate had a great spell earlier in the season, where it looked as though he was the man to replace Payet when our star man was out injured. He was creating chances for fun, and tormenting defences. Unfortunately, it didn’t materialise and a lack of first team football in the last few weeks means he will be leaving.

According to reports, he is going to Fiorentina for £1.6 million. This seems like a ridiculously low fee for a player who is clearly talented and is still only 28. He has an eye for the spectacular, and if given the right manager and set of circumstances could become a key component in the Italian clubs season. It seems a shame that we are letting him go for a minimal fee but the club have their reasons.

Zarate has frustrated and excited fans in equal measure, he can score a stunning goal against Chelsea one week, and be completely mediocre and look disinterested the next. This makes him a luxury player, and with a lack of funds this January someone had to move on if we were to bolster the squad before the end of the window. This frees up wages for a striker to arrive on loan, and we sure could do with a prolific frontman right now.

Mauro Zarate scored some great goals for the club in a short space of time. These two are probably the picks of the bunch. The volley against Crystal Palace led us to our 1-3 victory against them in what was a superb result, and the free kick against West Brom last month was one of our goals of the season. Zarate will be missed at The Boleyn Ground, mainly for his exuberance and flair. But it speaks volumes about West Ham’s ambitions for the fore coming seasons.