Why West Ham should sign Aleksandar Mitrovic over Maxi Gomez

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West Ham United have been on the lookout for a striker since January but the need for one has increased massively after the end of the season.

According to a report from the Evening Standard, West Ham are set to renew their interest in Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez in the summer.

The report says that the Hammers have him on top of their list but, if they fail to land him, Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is their next option.

The Hammers will most likely be without Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez next season, while Andy Carroll is also expected to move on at the end of his contract. Marko Arnautovic, despite signing a new deal in February, could still force a move to China after his whole saga back in the winter window.

Even if the Austrian stays, West Ham will need to bring in a top quality centre forward and Manuel Pellegrini should prefer Mitrovic over Gomez.

The Celta Vigo star has, in all fairness, had a fantastic season in La Liga, where he has scored 13 goals so far. However, at 22, a move to the Premier League could prove to be a difficult one to adapt to and West Ham may again have to struggle for goals next season.

Signing Mitrovic makes a lot more sense thanks to his experience in England. The Serbian found the net 11 times for the Cottagers in a dismal season which saw them go down. Mitrovic will have much more support at West Ham, with the likes of Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko around him, and he will thrive in Pellegrini’s system.

At 24, Mitrovic is a lot more mature than Gomez and his aggressive style of play will bring a lot of joy to the Olympic Stadium. The former Anderlecht forward will guarantee goals to this Hammers side and he is a safer bet than Gomez in the summer.