West Ham hold further talks with Celta Vigo about £40m-rated Maxi Gomez – report

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West Ham have held further talks over the possibility of signing La Liga striker Maxi Gomez, according to The Daily Mail.

Gomez is currently at Celta Vigo and he has been a longstanding West Ham target, dating back to last summer.

If Marko Arnautovic leaves, West Ham are hoping to bring Gomez to The London Stadium. This report adds that Arnautovic leaving this summer is unlikely.

Marko Arnautovic situation

Arnautovic wants to force a move away from West Ham and join a Chinese Super League club.

But Shanghai SIPG saw a £35m bid rejected by the Hammers and have not returned with a higher fee, The Daily Mail reports.

It looks like West Ham will not be held ransom over their star striker, who has hit eight goals this season.

Manuel Pellegrini has the final say on whether West Ham sell or keep the want-away Austrian forward this month.

Maxi Gomez

If the 29-year-old does leave, Gomez has been identified as the top target to replace him. Gomez has been in fine form for Celta Vigo this season, despite the club sitting just shy of the relegation zone in La Liga.

The 9-cap Uruguay international moved from Defensor Sporting to Celta Vigo in summer 2017, scoring 17 goals in 36 league games in his first season in Europe.

Gomez has followed that up this season with nine goals and five assists in 18 games for the relegation-threatened outfit.

The 22-year-old is rated at £40m by Celta Vigo and he is West Ham’s preferred option if Arnautovic departs.