Transfer News

Chelsea and Liverpool enter race for West Ham target Maxi Gomez – report

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Liverpool and Chelsea are the latest two clubs to join West Ham in the hunt for Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez, according to The Sun.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are eyeing £35m swoops for Gomez, who has been recommended by former Reds star Luis Suarez.

Gomez was West Ham’s top target in January with the Hammers seeing him as a potential replacement for Marko Arnautovic.

The Irons were hoping to snap him up in January and considered triggering his £43.5m release clause, as per The Guardian.

But West Ham’s hopes of revisiting this deal in the summer have been dented by Liverpool and Chelsea’s decision to enter the race.

The Sun believes that £35m will be enough to land the Uruguay international, despite him having three years left on his contract and a release clause.

Who is Maxi Gomez?

Maxi Gomez has scored 26 La Liga goals since his summer 2017 move to Celta Vigo. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Gomez only moved to Spain at the beginning of the 2017/18 season, leaving Defensor Sporting to join Celta Vigo.

In his debut season in Europe, the 22-year-old scored 17 goals in just 36 La Liga games.

When West Ham entered the race for him in January, Gomez had scored nine goals in 17 games for struggling Celta Vigo this season.

But in his six matches since, the Uruguayan striker has failed to find the net and been sent off once.

Despite this, Liverpool and Chelsea are ready to enter the race as they aim to bolster their striker options.

Consequently, West Ham could struggle to compete with the Premier League heavyweights, meaning other targets will have to be pursued.