Agent breaks silence on Argentine right-back

Gonzalo Montiel’s agent Marcelo Carracedo has confirmed that West Ham wants to sign his client who plays right back at River Plate.

Speaking to Radio Futbol 910 he said the Argentine right-back could be available for just £6.5 million this summer.

West Ham attempted to sign the 23-year-old last January, according to TyC, who claim that the Hammers made a £400,000 loan offer with an option to buy for £8.3 million in the summer.

Infobae claims that Montiel has a €20 million (£17.6 million) release clause inserted into his current contract with River Plate.

Montiel’s agent said as reported by Elintransigente.com“Before all this happened, there was a lot of interest. I thought that the health crisis was going to slow down a little, but calls kept coming. There are many teams that are interested. In a normal situation, Montiel was 90% gone, but now I don’t know. They (West Ham) wanted to make a high loan with a £10m option. River said no because they were fighting for things. It was talked about when West Ham arrived. Now there is no soccer in Argentina, and if an offer comes, you have to listen to it. Today, eight million is a good offer.”

Earlier this month Manuel Lanzini said he wants to see River Plate full-back Gonzalo Montiel playing alongside him at the London Stadium next season. He admitted to talking to the 23-year-old about joining the Hammers this summer.

Lanzini is quoted as saying to Diario Olé in his native Argentina “I think Montiel would fit in well at West Ham. I know they looked for him and couldn’t bring him in, he asked me and I spoke to him. The coach (Moyes) likes him. He likes to play with three or five defenders.”

Just two weeks ago Spanish website Estadio Deportivo claims that River Plate right back Gonzalo Montiel has verbally agreed on a pre-contract with West Ham.

The report claimed deal at the end of the season is reportedly worth in the region of £10m but could be called off if Montiel is unable to secure the necessary work permit, with his future ‘in the hands of the Home Office’