West Ham United have a 50% chance of signing Celta Vigo forward Maxi Gomez, according to Claret and Hugh.
The reliable club source claimed that the Hammers recently placed a £36million bid for the Uruguayan international, but the Spanish club are holding out for the 22-year-old’s release clause.
Claret and Hugh report that the asking price is £44.5million and that the club is reliant on the players’ agent, Jonathan Barnet, in order to hijack Valencia’s move for the striker.
Spanish newspaper Faro De Vigo revealed that Celta Vigo are unwilling to renegotiate a deal with the London club, who have sent officials to discuss a new deal for Gomez.
OPINION
When will this Gomez saga end? West Ham are determined to land their man and won’t take no for an answer. Despite Valencia reportedly having a bid accepted for the 22-year-old, the player’s agent could hold the key for the Hammers. Barnet is suggested to be a close friend of the Sullivans and can be known to be very persuasive – something that could tilt his client’s head into a move to London. With Valencia having already agreed a deal, a 50% chance seems very high for a club that has been told to meet the £44million fee, and have only yet managed to cough up £36million. Some long conversations are going to have to be had to persuade Gomez, but with West Ham knowing what it will take, the question remains – what is taking them so long? If they were that determined to land the striker, surely they would have confirmed it by now by coming up with the sum. With the imminent sale of Marko Arnautovic on the horizon, a more reasonable move for Gomez could be on the table in the coming days.
