On Tuesday, Celta Vigo director Felipe Miñambres has made it pretty clear that the club didn’t plan to sell any of their stars in the January window.
The official was asked specifically about West Ham’s interest in Maxi Gómez, and has claimed that they ‘would refer to the clause’ in that situation.
Now on Wednesday, local Celta outlet Galicia Press comes up with a story saying the Hammers are now pretty close to signing the player.
They say Gomez is ‘on his way to being the most expensive selling in Celta’s history’, and ‘the transfer is a matter of hours’, as ‘in England he’s been taken as signed’.
They just don’t make it clear if ‘in England’ means sources in England or the English press.
Still, according to Galicia Press’ sources, West Ham will be offering over €40m for the player, but won’t reach the amount of the release clause, which is €50m.
Galicia Press claims that despite the quotes from Miñambres about not selling the player, there are ‘many indications’ that the Uruguayan international is moving to London.
The outlet later refers to the amount as £40m, which is indeed over €40m and less than the release clause, so that makes sense.
The story is full of details about West Ham’s wish to sign Gomez and how Pellegrini plans to use him.