Manuel Pellegrini may have conceded that Maxi Gomez is no longer an obtainable target, as Record and A Bola are both suggesting the terms of Moussa Marega’s transfer from FC Porto to West Ham are complete.
A Bola had hinted earlier in the week that Marega would be on his way to East London in the summer as an unnamed Premier League side, believed to be the Irons, had activated his €40million (£34.9m) release clause.
Now, they continue the story by stating outright that West Ham have indeed triggered the clause, and that Porto President Pinto da Costa has sorted all the details that will see the Mali international captain join the Hammers.
Da Costa is also said to have arranged the transfer of Felipe Augusto de Almeida Monteiro to Atletico Madrid, to go alongside Real-bound Eder Militao, as Porto look set to bank a combined €110million (£96.2m) from the three players alone.
Record, meanwhile, differ slightly in their claims of Marega’s move to Stratford, as they suggest the 18-cap ace’s release clause is actually €35million (£30.6m).
They do, however, support A Bola’s claims that the 28-year-old is bound for the London Stadium, while adding that he had agreed to join the club last summer – Porto prevented the 28-year-old from joining us in 2018.
The sudden splurge of rumours relating to a new move for Marega comes at an interesting point, it must be said, as the Evening Standard only reported earlier this week that Celta Vigo’s Gomez and Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic were still being considered ahead of potential moves.
Gomez was even said to be the forward Pellegrini is most keen to sign as he looks to strengthen our offence, having allowed Andy Carroll to leave and doubt still lingering over Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez.
But, while the club deliberate whether to sign Gomez or not given Celta now look set to stay in La Liga for another year – and thus his release clause would remain at £43.5million – interest in the Uruguayan has grown stronger.
The Guardian understand both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are prepared to meet his release clause this summer, but also note that we have shown a willingness to trigger it, as well.
Should Pellegrini and Director of Football Mario Husillos go down the Gomez route, they would be adding a 22-year-old to our ranks, who has scored 13 goals in the Spanish top-flight this season (also assisting five).
Marega, on the other hand, is six years Gomez’s elder and has scored 21 goals this season in all competitions, but only struck the back of the net eleven times in the Portuguese top-flight (while assisting seven in the Liga NOS).
