Sources: West Ham big earner tells club he’s ready to quit in crunch talks
By Pete O’Rourke
Javier Hernandez has told West Ham he is keen to leave this summer if he remains on the fringes of the starting XI, Football Insider understands.
The striker has returned from his summer break to hold talks with the Hammers hierarchy about his future and where he fits into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans for next season.
A West Ham source has told Football Insider that Pellegrini regards Hernandez as a back-up rather than a first choice, and the club are willing to sell him his window.
The Mexico international turned 31 earlier this month and is in the top bracket of earners at the London Stadium after signing a three-year deal worth £140,000-a-week in 2017.
There is interest in Hernandez from Spain as well as clubs in the MLS, with LA Galaxy eager to make him one of their marquee players next year.
The difficulty for West Ham is finding a club willing to match or get close to Hernandez’s huge salary, with the club accepting they won’t recoup a significant amount of the £16million transfer fee they paid in 2017.
Hernandez scored eight goals in 28 matches last season, but started just 14 league games as Marko Arnautovic was the first choice spearhead in Pellegrini’s side.
His overall West Ham goal tally is 16 from 61 appearances, but he was far more prolific at previous clubs Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester United, as well as in his native Mexico.
In other West Ham news, it can be REVEALED that the club have agreed the terms of a stunning £40million signing.