West Ham transfer target Maxi Gomez is ‘lost in the mountains of Uruguay’ and unable to complete £44m Valencia transfer
Sponsored by
WEST HAM hold out a sliver of hope that Maxi Gomez will decide to sign for the club while camping in the mountains - and unable to complete his move to Valencia.
The two clubs were locked in an intense battle to sign the Celta Vigo forward but the Spaniards won out and agreed personal terms with his agents on Tuesday.
Celta had accepted proposals from Los Che and the Hammers, leaving it up to Gomez to decide.
While West Ham had matched his £45million up-front release clause, their rivals agreed a player-plus-cash deal including Santi Mina, Jorge Saenz and up to £13.5m.
Everything is in place - apart from Gomez's signature.
Remarkably, the striker has reportedly been unreachable while enjoying a holiday in his native Uruguay.
After the Copa America, where Gomez failed to play a single minute, he headed out into the countryside for a spot of camping and fishing.
Uruguay's highest peak, Cerro Catedral, is surrounded by a vast wilderness called Cuchilla Grande where Gomez won't find it hard to go off-grid.
Until he returns, Valencia fear he will change his mind and opt for a switch to the Premier League.
Latest Football news
On Tuesday, agents Joshua Barnett and Luis Alonso were at Estadio Mestalla with director general Mateu Alemany to finalise their side of the deal, according to .
Valencia's interest hastened the Hammers to offer to pay Gomez's release clause up front, rather than in instalments.
It is said that Celta's eagerness to accept the less cash-heavy option was based on their desire to take highly-rated Spanish forward Mina as part of the sale.