Recently linked with a shock move to West Ham, free agent striker Mario Mandzukic is set to join La Liga side, Celta Vigo, according to CRTVG.
The Hammers weren’t the only Premier League side interested in the 34-year-old, as Aston Villa were also credited with a potential move, but the Croatian has rejected a move to England in favour of Spain.
According to CRTVG, Celta Vigo are believed to be ‘one step away’ from signing the former Juventus and Bayern Munich veteran and are prepared to pay him £4.5m in wages for the rest of the season.
Mandzukic is without a club after terminating his deal with Qatari side Al-Duhail in July, and despite his advancing years he would remain a huge coup for many clubs.
With almost 197 goals in 497 club appearances, the Croatia international – who scored for them in the 2018 World Cup final – will feel he still has plenty to offer. In his last season in Serie A, Mandzukic scored nine times and supplied four assists in 25 matches.
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Although this deal won’t fall into the ‘one that got away’ category, signing a player with the glorious track record and with the medals of Mandzukic could have been a boost to shirt sales at London Stadium, if nothing else.
David Moyes is light in the striking department, with Sebastien Haller the only alternative to Michail Antonio, who has been affected throughout his Hammers career with injury setbacks.
Mandzukic would have provided another goal threat for the Irons, although his style of play isn’t dissimilar to that of Haller’s, with both men strong in the air.
That said, players of the calibre and CV of Mandzukic don’t become available too often, especially on a potential free, and Moyes may be frustrated to have missed out, should the club’s original interest have been genuine.
