According to Sky Sports, West Ham United have approached Juventus in their pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain. It is believed that the Hammers want to sign the Argentine superstar on a season-long loan deal but are willing to include an option to buy clause. Juventus, however, are keen on selling Higuain permanently and have set an asking fee of £36 million.
Higuain’s below-par spell at Chelsea
After moving down the pecking order at Juventus following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain was loaned out to AC Milan last summer. The forward started his stint at San Siro on a positive note, but his influence faded with time.
He then returned to the Allianz Arena in January and was immediately loaned out to Chelsea till the rest of the campaign.
However, the ex-Napoli superstar scored just five goals in 14 league matches, which is well below par for a player of his calibre. He also struggled with fitness and form, even though he did help the Blues secure Champions League football for next season.
That being said, Higuain’s future at Juventus remain uncertain as the Old Lady continue to play under the influence of Ronaldo. Hence, a move away from Turin makes sense as the Argentine looks to revive his career, with West Ham a potential destination.
Where does Higuain fit in at West Ham?
West Ham suffered a massive blow this summer as Marko Arnautovic finally left the club in favour of a move to China. The Austrian’s departure has created a massive void in the attacking department, thus accentuating the need for a new attacker.
Higuain, in that regard, could be an excellent candidate. The 31-year-old has vast experience in top-flight football, and despite a stuttering spell at Chelsea, he could find it easier to score goals under the attack-oriented footballing philosophy of Manuel Pellegrini.
Is Higuain a good option for the Hammers?
The London giants have the cash to burn following Arnautovic’s big money move to Shanghai SIPG. But, at the same time, they can’t afford to waste it all on a striker, who is already in the final phase of his career. He is already 31 and will not be able to offer a prospect for the future.
Hence, the Hammers should turn their attention towards a younger alternative, who can not only be a long-term investment but can also add more quality to the side. Maxi Gomez and Sebastien Haller are a couple of players Pellegrini should really look into this summer as he aims to kickstart a new era at the London Stadium next season.
