West Ham have decided against making an offer for Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez, according to reports in England.
The Uruguayan international’s release clause would have been reduced to £22m if his side had been relegated this season, but Celta survived the drop and any team must now pay a hefty £44m.
The Hammers’ reported decision to turn away from making a bid for Gomez has not gone down well with some supporters on Twitter:
? typical West Ham Way
— DJ Rowland Samuel (@djrowsam) May 19, 2019
Probably more to all of these transfers. Well never know the inside and outs. But if the rumours of Bournemouth submitting a bid and signing Kelly within several hours are true we need to up our game!
— ryan cooper (@newstudioblues) May 19, 2019
Same old will never change
— Carl 1895 #teamisla (@CaW1895) May 19, 2019
Familiar story. For Gomez read Lacazette, Batshuayi, Carvalho etc. For us older Hammers this practice has been going on right back to missing out on Paul Mariner !!
— Alan Reynolds ⚒ (@alanreynoldswhu) May 19, 2019
From Gomez to Rondon! Nothing changes ?
— 父 Dylan 父 (@Dylbec) May 19, 2019
Rondón and Mitrovic will not take us to the next level. Shows poor ambition.
— Mark Deal 父 (@Deal770M) May 19, 2019
Should have got him in Jan
Was never going to happen in the summer if we didnt— Fi_Fpl Addict⚒ (@FI_FplAddict123) May 19, 2019
Shocking! Impossible! At West Ham? Never!
— West Ham United Transfer Kitty (@WHTransferKitty) May 19, 2019
With only a limited budget to spend this summer before player sales, Gomez was always going to be out of the club’s price range, but it does mean manager Manuel Pellegrini will have to settle for a cheaper alternative.
West Brom’s Salomon Rondon looks likely to be an option that West Ham will pursue, with the Venezuelan international having a release clause of £16.5m after ending his loan spell with Newcastle.
Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is also believed to be a target but the Serbian would likely cost more than Rondon.