£16m striker Javier Hernandez could reportedly leave the Premier League and West Ham United for the MLS.
West Ham United striker Javier Hernandez could be on his way across the Atlantic this summer with the owner of MLS newcomers Austin FC confirming his interest in signing the Mexican international, as reported by AS.
The 31-year-old only joined The Hammers two years ago from Bayer Leverkusen in a £16 million deal (The Standard) but he has been heavily linked with a move to the United States for as long as memory will allow.
With ‘Chicharito’ starting just 14 of his 25 Premier League appearances in 2018/19, it would hardly be a shock if West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini was open to selling the former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker.
Particularly with the Londoners looking to make a marquee striker signing with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Salomon Rondon and Maxi Gomez on their radar, according to The Mirror (18 June, page 48).
And Hernandez will be given the chance to start a new life in America with the owner of Austin FC, Anthony Precourt, making his plans clear.
“Chicharito would be pretty special; I’d be as excited as anyone,” he said.
“That’s the type of player we’ll target, and we’ll give our best pitch. I think he’s got a year left on his contract at West Ham and I think other clubs are rumored to be looking at him in MLS.
“We’ll certainly be active in trying to recruit him in the years to come”.
Given that a number of Hernandez’s compatriots are currently starring in the MLS, including LAFC talisman Carlos Vela, he could be tempted to move to a league which remains desperate to shed it’s ‘retirement home’ image.
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