Forget Maxi Gomez cliffhanger because West Ham might be targeting the wrong Celta Vigo striker altogether

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West Ham United are said to be facing a cliffhanger over the potential summer signing of Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez.

The Uruguayan forward remains Manuel Pellegrini’s number one target according to reports.

The Hammers tried to sign Gomez in January but to no avail.

It is believed the struggling La Liga outfit wanted around £40million for the 23-year-old.

‘Cliffhanger’ situation over Gomez?

That figure is said to halve should Celta be relegated (Claret & Hugh).

As a result all West Ham eyes have been on the Spanish side’s results – which have improved of late lifting them up to 14th in La Liga.

The situation has been described as a cliffhanger for West Ham’s hopes of getting their man on the cheap.

But are the Hammers targeting the wrong Celta Vigo striker altogether?

Gomez has 12 La Liga goals this season. Not bad considering he is playing in a struggling side.

And it is more than any current West Ham player.

Is Pellegrini targeting the wrong Celta striker?

It is his teammate and former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas who is the talisman for his side, though.

The Spanish international never got a real chance at Anfield, playing just 15 times, mostly as a sub.

Aspas may be 31. But he is very quick, agile, skilful and deadly as his scoring stats suggest in the last five seasons.

He has 17 goals for Celta this term from just 24 games and six assists to boot.

That is despite spending a lengthy spell out injured. Indeed many Celta fans feel that his absence is the main reason for their struggles in the league.

Is Aspas the man for the here and now?

With all four of West Ham’s first team strikers potentially leaving this summer an ideal scenario would be signing both.

Gomez is very much an investment for the future but would also represent something of a gamble as he is untried in the English top flight.

It is a dilemma for the club. If you build a team around young, talented players and they excel they will soon be picked off by Europe’s elite.

Aspas would be more of an instant fix and given his age, probably a cheaper option too.

Above all it depends on where Pellegrini wants to take the team and the club’s expectations for the short-term.

It will certainly make for an interesting summer.