Report: Hammers linked with Juve striker

The Hammers are being linked with yet another new striker target this morning in the shape of former Chelsea front man Gonzalo Higuain.

According to Sky Sport Italia, West Ham have proposed a season-long loan deal to bring him to the London Stadium after the 31-year-old spent the final four months of last season on loan at Stamford Bridge.

He scored five goals in 18 matches for the Blues and after failing to get a permanent move went back to Italy where he now has two years left on his contract.

It’s claimed Juventus would prefer to sell the striker outright and are said to value him at around £40million. West Ham’s loan offer would likely include an option to buy.

ClaretandHugh says: No doubt the first thing that will be mentioned about such a move is: “He’s too old” but the reality is that 31 or not Higuian has a superb scoring record throughout his career. It totals 242 from 431 games and even last season, which was disturbed by loan moves to Milan and Chelsea, he managed 11 from 25 appearances. In the three seasons at Napoli between 2013-16 he managed 71 from 104. With younger top line strikers inevitably looking for Champions League football a move for Higuian on loan looks a decent plan but doesn’t solve the big problem still facing the club following Arnautovic’s near walk out. Maybe it was naive to believe that he would ever see out any more time on his extended contract but the reality is it has left a hole that gives the club less than a month to sort the front positions. As a back-up front man Higuian obviously makes some sense.