West Ham United have been dealt a huge setback in our hopes to pull off what would be an epic transfer, and fans on social media expect this to be where our interest comes to an end.
When Marko Arnautovic looked all but confirmed as heading off to China last month, one of the masses of strikers linked with a move to the London Stadium to replace the Austrian was Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez.
In the end, our second top goalscorer stayed put and signed a new contract, but our interest in the Uruguayan remained and reports claimed that discussions would continue with an eye on the summer instead.
Had we just paid the €50million (£43.5m) release clause and loaned the 22-year-old back to the La Liga strugglers, we could have prevented the inevitable reports that have since come out of Spain, with Mundo Deportivo now linking the 9-cap international to Barcelona.
Their report claims that the table-toppers are prioritising a new, young striker when the next window opens, and upon their shortlist is Gomez, along with Sevilla’s Andre Silva and Frankfurt sensation Luka Jovic.
Unfortunately for West Ham, sources have supposedly told MD that it is Gomez that Ernesto Valverde is most keen to add to his roster next term and the nine-goal ace has even visited the Catalan club.
No wonder, then, that a lot of fans have been sharing on social media that they expect our interest to be all but over…
We move on then. I smell an agent or 4 hiking this one up to seriously silly levels
— Simon Brewer (@SimonBrewer20) February 21, 2019
Agree, once one of the big boys get involved (or rumoured to be) the agents will be taking us to the cleaners.
— Russell Kirby (@rustyk1971) February 21, 2019
Oh well I’m sure we will win that battle then !
— Mark (@ElvinWestside) February 22, 2019
The Spanish media have been reporting Barca’s long term interest in him as they liken him to Suarez. If we were genuinely interested in him in January that’s when we should’ve tried to sort a deal.
— AllSportsView (@AllSportsView) February 21, 2019
Surprise surprise, could see this coming a mile away! “well buy him in the summer” blah blah blah. Should’ve bought him in January. Oh well, move on I guess.
— kenny janes (@Ken_Reg_Janes) February 21, 2019
Well it was nice while it lasted… ????????♂️
— Luc Bailey (@luc_bailey1) February 21, 2019
Barcelona ready to rival West Ham? Should just say “Gomez off to Barca” ????
— WHUlogical⚒ (@WHUlogical) February 21, 2019
Was always going to happen
— Can’t defend FC (@aplin87) February 21, 2019
Hmmm – sit on the bench in sunny Spain, or play more often in London. Looks like we need a new target lol.
— Ian Turner (@StiltonBargains) February 21, 2019