West Ham are closing in on the signing of Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gómez after signalling their intent to pay the striker’s £43.5m release clause.
They are confident a deal for the 22-year-old Uruguayan can be struck before the transfer window shuts on Thursday after telling Marko Arnautovic that they will let him move to China for £45m in the summer. With Celta battling against relegation from La Liga, West Ham’s willingness to let Gómez return to Spain on loan for the rest of the season is likely to bring a successful end to negotiations.
Arnautovic performed a dramatic U-turn on Friday night, committing himself to West Ham after weeks of speculation over his future. The Austrian forward has been desperate to accept a lucrative offer from a Chinese Super League club – thought to be Guangzhou Evergrande – but West Ham are yet to receive a suitable offer for him. Arnautovic’s unhappiness at being denied a move led to him dropped for last weekend’s defeat by Bournemouth.
West Ham are reluctant not to lose the 29-year-old this month. They have accepted that his focus lies elsewhere, though, and have told his representatives that they are happy to sanction an amicable parting of the ways at the end of the season. The agreement means Manuel Pellegrini is set to welcome Arnautovic back into his squad for Tuesday’s trip to Wolves.