Arsenal are reportedly moving for West Ham target, Maxi Gomez, and have met with his agents.

The centre forward, who scored 13 goals with five assists in 34 La Liga games for Celta Vigo this season, attracted the attention of West Ham ‘since the winter’ according to Hugh Southon who owns the Hammers website claretandhugh.info.

Now, however, Arsenal are interested in buying the player who would cost in the region of £40m.

While Arsenal are allowing Danny Welbeck to leave for nothing this summer and will be in need of another forward, given their limited budget and dire need in other positions, it seems highly unlikely to me that they would make this move.

Another forward? Sure, but one priced more around the Olivier Giroud level of £12m. Even that would put a strain on the club’s finances unless they can win the Europa League to reach the Champions League money pile.

Southon says Arsenal have, “made their moves through agents over the past few days and are ready to pay the £43 million transfer fee and talk personal terms with the striker.

“It is a near repeat of the scenario surrounding Alexandre Lacazette who joined Arsenal in 2017 after the Hammers had conducted lengthy talks with Lyon before opting for Arsenal.”

If anything, I’d wager this story is Gomez’s agent trying to get a better deal for his client or Celta Vigo trying to extract more money for a player who is actually worth around £10m less than the figure being quoted.

Maxi Gomez is under contract until 2022 and cost Celta Vigo £3.6m in 2017.