West Ham United may have missed their chance to sign Maximiliano Meza.
West Ham United may have added a host of players over the summer, but they did of course miss out on a number of targets too, such is the nature of the window.
The Hammers ended up landing 10 new signings as Lukasz Fabianski, Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop, Fabian Balbuena, Carlos Sanchez, Jack Wilshere, Felipe Anderson, Andriy Yarmolenko, Xande Silva and Lucas Perez all arrived at the London Stadium.
Manuel Pellegrini has been backed with funds to strengthen his squad, but one player did evade the Hammers boss in Independiente ace Maximiliano Meza.
Meza’s agent Sergio Carrizo recently told El Crack Deportivo that Pellegrini was interested in Meza this summer with Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad also keen.
However, Carrizo suggested that West Ham were dallying over Meza, registering their interest one day and then never speaking to him again as they weighed up their options – and they may struggle to land him again.
Independiente coach Ariel Holan has now told El Eco that Meza has been offered a new contract to stay with the club, with Martin Benitez also offered new terms to stay amid interest from Europe.
Carrizo’s comments suggest that Meza was a target of Pellegrini rather than the West Ham hierarchy, and whilst Pellegrini may have . wanted to revisit the interest in January, it seems that Independiente are now attempting to ensure that he stays with the Argentinian side.
Meza may have been a notable flop for Argentina at the World Cup, looking out of his depth for his country, but he has impressed in Argentina with Independiente, hitting seven goals in 36 games for the club last season, and Pellegrini may have been attracted to his versatility to play out wide or in midfield as well as his superb work rate, but it now remains to be seen whether West Ham have a chance to make another move for this Pellegrini target.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
