West Ham United have missed out on Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez.
According to the Daily Star, West Ham United were so confident that Maxi Gomez would sign, that they booked a medical for the Celta Vigo striker, before being forced to cancel it.
The Hammers had made 22-year-old Gomez their top striking target this summer, in what has become an almost tiresome transfer saga.
The Uruguayan hit 30 goals in 73 games for Celta following a 2017 move from Defensor Sporting, becoming Manuel Pellegrini’s preferred striking target in the process.
Gomez’s situation has become a farce in recent weeks, with West Ham and Valencia battling away for his signature, and the Hammers seemingly felt that they were in the box seat when they told Celta they’d pay Gomez’s release clause.
Unfortunately for West Ham, Celta weren’t prepared to take their payment plan of the release clause in instalments, and have instead accepted Valencia’s deal of cash plus Santi Mina and Jorge Saenz.
West Ham were allegedly so confident that Gomez would sign that they actually booked him in for a medical ahead of completing the move, only to be told that he was instead signing for Valencia on a five-year deal.
Pellegrini and co must now turn their attentions elsewhere, and may be forced to pursue a cheaper option than Gomez after those payment plans, and with strikers leaving the club without much money coming in.
Lucas Perez, Andy Carroll and Marko Arnautovic have all gone for a total of around £25million, whilst selling Javier Hernandez and Jordan Hugill won’t boost the income too much, especially when they’ll have to sign two or three strikers.
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