Arsenal could succeed where West Ham United failed by signing Spanish striker Rodrigo Moreno.
West Ham were heavily linked with the Valencia forward last summer (The Sun).
Rodrigo has become one of his country’s top forwards and started his senior career at Bolton in 2010-11 on loan from Benfica.
According to reports at the time West Ham were monitoring Rodrigo’s situation after he told Valencia he wanted to return to the Premier League.
West Ham wanted Rodrigo and Gomez but settled with Haller
The Hammers target was also being watched by Barcelona and Everton.
But he remained at Valencia where he was joined by another striker West Ham fans know well, Maxi Gomez.
West Ham were beaten by Los Che to the signing of Gomez and the Hammers spent £45million on Sebastien Haller instead.
It appears Valencia are now willing to let Rodrigo leave.
But the forward could end up going to West Ham’s London rivals Arsenal in the next window.
Arsenal in for Hammers target
The Mirror claims Valencia have made a firm enquiry for Rodrigo with the future of both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in doubt.
“Valencia owner Peter Lim is preparing for changes at the Mestalla and is willing to let Rodrigo go,” The Mirror reports.
“The player’s deal contains a buyout clause of £110million, though that may be dreamland in the current climate.
“Rodrigo could be allowed to leave for less than half that amount, for between £45m and £50m plus extras.”
That kind of money would certainly be out of the question for West Ham by all accounts.
West Ham finances rule out any chance of move
Various channels have been reporting West Ham will have to sell their stars in the next window due to the financial impact of the global health crisis.
Reports and claims from a host of sources include reliable insider ExWHUemployee, Football Insider, Football London and Claret & Hugh.
And the club will also have very little money to spend too it is claimed.
West Ham were said to be fully focused on securing the ‘priority’ signing of a striker in the next window (Claret & Hugh).
Whether Rodrigo was on David Moyes’s list of targets is unclear.
With the Gunners in the mix it pits master against pupil. Moyes’s former captain turned Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is doing his own rebuilding job.
But big money is being touted. And that means West Ham’s flirtation with the idea of signing the Brazilian-born striker looks ambitious but no longer realistic.
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