Tim Vickery praises reported West Ham target Maxi Gomez

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West Ham United reportedly want Maxi Gomez.

Well-known South American football expert Tim Vickery has spoken highly of reported West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur target Maxi Gomez on Sky Sports.

According to The Express, West Ham are considering triggering Gomez’s release clause of £44 million.

It has been reported that West Ham are looking at the Celta de Vigo striker as a potential replacement for Marko Arnautovic.

The report has also claimed that Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona are interested in the former Defensor Sporting striker.

Vickery is a well-known expert on South American football and players, and he has spoken highly of the 22-year-old, but he has also suggested that Celta may not sell due to them being in real danger of getting relegated from La Liga at the end of the season.

Vickery told Sky Sports about Gomez: “He is almost like something of a throwback to the great old tradition of the English No 9 when you would whistle down a mine shaft and up would step a strapping centre-forward.

“He is fearsomely strong. Opponents almost bounce off him, he is so physically strong. He is known as ‘The Bull’. You look at him and physically, he is a bull. He is a very, very strong, powerful centre-forward with plenty of technical gifts as well.”

Vickery added: “[He will] certainly leave Celta Vigo at some point this year. Whether that is going to be in January and to West Ham, I think is a little bit more questionable.

“Celta Vigo do not really want to sell now. They are planning on selling in the summer.”

Stats

Gomez made 35 starts and one substitute appearance in La Liga for Celta during the 2017-18 campaign, scoring 17 goals and providing four assists in the process, according to WhoScored.

So far this season, the 22-year-old striker has made 16 starts and two substitute appearances in La Liga for Celta, scoring nine goals and providing five assists in the process, according to WhoScored.