River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo will not stop West Ham United target Gonzalo Montiel leaving the Argentine giants with a replacement already lined up, as reported by TYC Sports.
Simply writing Montiel’s name takes your correspondent back to the spring of 2020.
Because, around nine months ago, barely a day went by without West Ham being linked with a move for the six-time Albiceleste international.
That was, in part, thanks to his motor-mouth agent, Marcelo Carracedo.
Carracedo claimed on multiple occasions that Montiel was keen on a move to Europe, telling Clarin that West Ham were one of the clubs hoping to sign an all-action right-back who lifted the Copa Libertadores title in 2018.
Flash forward to the present day and, with his contract expiring in July, River Plate are understandably open to offers after trying and failing to tie Montiel down to a new, long-term deal.
West Ham have made their interest known once again (El Intransigente).
Now, TYC claims that River coach Gallardo will not stand in Montiel’s way.
Then again, with one of South America’s biggest clubs crying out for an injection of cash, River have no real choice but to let Montiel go this month at the risk of losing their prized asset for absolutely nothing later in the year.
Alex Vigo of Colon has been lined up as a replacement, too.
Montiel has a £17 million release clause but West Ham may be hopeful of striking a bargain deal, one year after Gallardo laughed off a ‘ridiculous’ £9 million bid from the Premier League outfit.
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