Barcelona have made Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez a summer transfer target, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The Catalan newspaper reports that Barca are keen to snap up a new striker with the Uruguayan their favoured option ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Luka Jovic and AC Milan’s Andre Silva.

West Ham tried to sign Gomez in the January transfer window but opted to delay their pursuit until the summer once Marko Arnautovic’s future is resolved.

However, the Hammers may have one advantage over Barcelona in the race for the Celta forward. The La Liga champions would be hesitant to pay Gomez’s €50m (£44m) release clause; something the London club wouldn’t have a problem doing.

Especially if Arnautovic is sold to China in the summer, the funds would be directly reinvested to sign the Uruguayan international.

Gomez has been in good form for Celta despite the Spanish club struggling against relegation. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 21 league appearances this season.