Maxi Gomez situation all but sealed as West Ham face up to £20 million reality

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West Ham United now know the reality facing them in their pursuit of prime striker target Maxi Gomez.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini wanted Uruguayan Gomez from Celta Vigo in January.

The Chilean remains keen on his fellow South American to lead an overhaul of his striker options.

Gomez is West Ham’s main target

Reports after deadline day said West Ham would return for the £45 million rated 22-year-old in the summer (Sky Sports).

And Hammers fans have been keeping a keen eye on struggling Celta Vigo’s results ever since.

That’s after reports claimed Gomez’s £45m release clause will be halved to £22.5m if Celta are relegated from La Liga.

The thinking is that would make a deal more likely for West Ham.

Hammers money men facing up to reality

Now the reality facing West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold and their director of football Mario Husillos is clear.

Celta Vigo’s 3-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday left the club one place and three points above the relegation zone heading into the final game at the weekend.

As a result Celta look all but safe.

They can only be caught by 18th placed Girona – who sit on 37 points. But that would require a highly unlikely six-goal swing on the final day.

Six-goal swing and an extra £20m

Celta take on already relegated Rayo Vallecano while Girona face midtable Alaves. Of course anything is possible in football – as evidenced over the last two weeks.

But the likely scenario means West Ham face having to pay the original fee if they want their man. Unless of course an alternative deal can be brokered between the clubs after Gomez’s 13 goals – 30 in two seasons – helped keep Celta up.

A new report claims West Ham could be on the verge of completing new signings by the end of May.

Fellow Hammers website Claret & Hugh claims Pellegrini could have more than one new signing bagged in the next couple of weeks.