Report: Valencia set to beat West Ham to Maxi Gomez capture
West Ham United are apparently set to lose the race for Celta Vigo's Maxi Gomez.
The Uruguayan striker prefers a move to Valencia, who will compete in the 2019-20 Champions League campaign, according to the Guardian's Jacob Steinberg. West Ham were unable to arrange a deal with Celta Vigo that allowed them to pay his €50-million release clause in installments.
Gomez is instead expected to join Valencia for around €16 million, with Santi Mina being sent the other way to Galicia on a permanent basis. Jorge Saenz, who recently arrived at Valencia from second-tier Tenerife, is also expected to move on loan to Celta Vigo.
West Ham are in dire need of frontline recruitment after offloading Marko Arnautovic to Shanghai SIPG for around £22 million on Monday. Andy Carroll was released and Lucas Perez was sold earlier this summer, leaving Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Jordan Hugill - the latter of whom is yet to start a match for the Hammers - as the club's only recognized strikers.
Steinberg believes a swoop for Bournemouth's Callum Wilson is unlikely while his asking price is £70 million.