West Ham’s £40m Gomez transfer pursuit dealt huge blow as Celta Vigo rule out sale
Hammers thought they would get deal for Uruguayan star done before the transfer window closes but La Liga side have decided they do not want to sell until the summer
WEST HAM have seen Celta Vigo perform a major U-turn over striker Maxi Gomez.
The struggling La Liga club now claim their star man is no longer for sale this month - but have indicated they will be ready to do business with the Hammers after the season.
This mean Uruguayan Gomez, 22, is likely to arrive at the London Stadium in the summer instead.
West Ham were initially confident of landing the Vigo star before the deadline in a £40million deal.
They believed they had done enough to get the transfer over the line even though it was slightly short of the player’s £43.5m release clause figure.
Vigo indicated they were ready to sell the player for the reduced amount, only for the side to embark on a dismal run of results in La Liga.
Five successive defeats have seen them drop into a relegation spot and they are no longer sure they can afford to let the goalscoring threat of Gomez go.
Club president Carlos Mourino has changed his mind over nine-goal Gomez and wants him to stay to help avoid relegation.
West Ham still want Gomez knowing Marko Arnautovic – despite having his contract extended – looks set to leave in the summer.
Arnautovic penned a one-year extension to his deal on Saturday having seen his hopes of a lucrative move to China fall down.
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The Hammers refused to agree to the £35m bid made from Ghangzhou Evergrande, insisting they would only do business for a minimum of £45m.
Arnautovic has not been given a pay rise, although he has been offered improved performance related bonuses to keep him happy.
West Ham hope that will be enough to keep the Austrian motivated to perform at a high level for the remainder of the season at least.