West Ham United sporting director Mario Husillos has held initial talks with the representatives of free-agent Nicolas Gaitan, according to the Guardian.
The newspaper claim on their website that Husillos has started discussions with Matias Lipman over a potential move in the January transfer window.
The Guardian report that West Ham are expected to be challenged by Premier League rivals Sheffield United and Aston Villa after Manuel Pellegrini had requested attacking reinforcements.
It is suggested that the 31-year-old would prefer a return to Europe after completing spells in both China and the United States, despite having an option to remain in the MLS for another season.
OPINION
On one hand, it appears smart by Husillos to open talks to try and secure his targets early before the window. On the other, it could be foolish by the Argentinian, who has been questioned after the Hammers’ poor start to the season, with not of all his summer signings exactly hitting the ground running like they were supposed too at the London Stadium. There would be many question marks surrounding Gaitan if he arrived at West Ham, and despite his experience around the globe, surely he isn’t the answer to Pellegrini’s problems. The 31-year-old only scored on four separate occasions in the MLS last season, and although he delivered 11 assists, he doesn’t exactly give anything that West Ham already have in the final third. A move for Gaitan doesn’t scream ambition, and if the Hammers do bring him in the winter market it doesn’t show that they want to be pushing for European football at the end of the season.
