West Ham United are in the hunt for a new striker following the departures of several first-team strikers, the latest being star striker Marko Arnautović, who decided he will be better tested in China and joined Shanghai SIPG after the Hammers received a fee of £22.4 million for the 30-year-old. The only first-team striker that the London club currently have in their squad is Javier Hernandez after Lucas Perez left for Spanish club Alaves, and Andy Carroll left on a free transfer.
The Hammers have now been linked with a shock transfer move for Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuaín, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Premier League side Chelsea, where he did not have the best of times. The Argentine is reportedly a loan target for West Ham as the Premier League side want to bring him to the club on a season-long loan deal, which could be made permanent, as per Sky Sport Italia.
But the report states that the Italian champions want to sell the 31-year-old, who was on loan at AC Milan and Chelsea last year, and that they want a fee of £40 million. Higuain is currently contracted with Juventus till 2021 after signing for them in 2016 from Napoli for €90 million.
Why Pellegrini should stay away from this move?
This transfer rumour has come out of the blue and it almost unbelievable. Firstly, the wage that Higuain commands will be huge, with him reportedly on a €7 million-a-year contract at Juventus. Even if they can afford those wages, the wage disparity between him and the rest of the West Ham United squad could disrupt the dressing room equilibrium, much like what happened when Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United on astronomical wages.
Higuain has also not been in good form and had a poor 2018-19 season, for both AC Milan and Chelsea. He scored just 13 goals in 40 appearances for both clubs combined, which is a very average return.
The Argentine also seemed far too slow for the Premier League, which should put off Manuel Pellegrini from signing him. At 31 years of age, Higuain is no spring chicken; the Hammers should instead invest the money in a younger forward like Callum Wilson or an experienced Premier League striker like Salomon Rondon – both of whom would be cheaper options and have been successful in the Premier League.