Ben Guest
West Ham United have identified Celta Vigo forward Maxi Gomez as a potential replacement for Marko Arnautovic according to reports.
Arnautovic could be one of the big money movers of the transfer window, with reports last week claiming an unnamed Chinese club, thought to be Shangai SIPG, have made a bid of £35m for the Austrian.
While West Ham were adamant that their striker is not for sale, Arnautovic’s brother, who is also his agent, said that the 29-year-old was keen on a move to the far east, where it is expected that he would double his current salary.
While reports say that Arnautovic is behaving like a ‘model professional,’ his move from Stoke in 2017 showed that he has the capacity to throw his toys out of the pram if he doesn’t get his own way, with Ian Wright recently saying that the East London club should let him leave.
The Chinese transfer window is still open until February 28th, although the Hammers are highly unlikely to sanction his departure without having got a replacement in first, and according to Sky Sports, they are once again looking at Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez.
The Uruguayan has netted nine goals in 17 La Liga appearances this season, as well as providing five assists, despite the Spanish side sitting just outside of the relegation zone.
Celta are understandably keen to keep hold of their talisman, who has a £45million release clause in his contract, a price that the Hammers are thought to be unwilling to pay.