Path Clear For Gomez To Be The Main Man

When Marko Arnautovic signed a contract extension in January which included a £20,000 per week pay rise, he said: "The fans gave me the power, they gave me the energy, that's why I have to be here and that's why I want to stay." Et tu Brute?

While the Sulk is now just about off for his Chinese take away, medical withstanding, Hammers are quickly moving to resolve the protracted will he or won't he Maxi Gomez transfer saga. Most observers assumed the delays, apart from Gomez's participation in the Copa America, were due to the financial arrangements between Celta Vigo, West Ham and the Uruguayan's other main suitor Valencia.

It is true that Celta Vigo had accepted terms with Valencia which involved THREE players moving in the opposite direction as part of the deal, it is rumoured that the three players were scheduled for their fitness tests, but the appointments were cancelled at the eleventh hour. The offer from West Ham is of course a straight cash offer, but to be paid over an as yet undetermined period of time, probably three years.

In reality Celta Vigo will not initially benefit that much by dealing with West Ham, unless they hold out for Gomez's full release clause which is £45 Million, they would even then only receive £15 Million up front, just a tad more than they were offered by Valencia. The three player as make weights were seen to be crucial in order for Valencia to get their man, however it now transpires that Gomez himself has chosen West Ham over Valencia for one simple reason, and it's not the money!

22 Year old Gomez had sought assurances that if he came to the London Stadium he would not be playing second fiddle to Marko Arnautovic and would be in the in the starting line up, well Arnie and Danny have inadvertently helped resolve that issue leaving the route clear for Gomez to arrive with the number one status he so desires. Manuel Pelegrini will indulge the youngster so long as he is finding the back of the net, and is probably looking forward to seeing his main striker smiling instead of grimacing all of the time.

Gomez is pricey, but like his future team mates, Fornals, Rice, Diop and Anderson, is young with a phenomenal sell on value that will only increase in time. The management will recognise that a back up striker will also be required, given the exits of Any Carroll and Lucas Perez, and the potential exit of Javier Hernandez. The strategy might seem a little risky, but the only way Hammers can break in to the top six is by taking risks, after all wasn't the reason for leaving the Boleyn given as being necessary in order to take the club to that higher level? - Ed