Valencia could be forced to sell West Ham transfer target Goncalo Guedes this summer amid financial crisis
VALENCIA could reportedly be forced to sell West Ham target Goncalo Guedes this summer.
O Jogo claims another miserable transfer market is on the horizon for the cash-strapped LaLiga outfit after owner Peter Lim withdrew his funding last year.
And West Ham are ready to take advantage by signing Portugal international Guedes on a bargain deal, adds Fichajes.
The versatile forward has been one of Valencia’s best players since his 2017 switch from Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 16 goals in 102 games.
However, finances remain tight at the Spanish side despite offloading several key figures last summer.
And Guedes may be part of the next wave of exits as Valencia look to avoid a disastrous relegation.
West Ham are in the market for a new forward and Guedes ticks all the boxes for David Moyes, who is also looking at Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham.
But Guedes’ Mestalla exit could spark more outrage among Valencia fans, who can’t believe the threadbare squad they’ve been given this term.
Club president Anil Murthy failed to make one single signing last summer, other than turning Jason’s loan from Getafe into a permanent deal for £4m.
Midfield stars Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo were controversially sold to rivals Villarreal.
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Ferran Torres and Rodrigo then moved to the Premier League with Man City and Leeds respectively.
Full-backs Alessandro Florenzi and Jaume Costa were also shown the door, while stalwart defender Ezequiel Garay was released on a free transfer.
Valencia then sold Geoffrey Kondogbia to Atletico Madrid AFTER the transfer window had been shut, with Diego Simeone’s side taking advantage of a bizarre Spanish loophole.
Kondogbia blasted Murthy’s transfer business before he left, saying: “Having already destroyed an ambitious project, you had to deceive your coach (Javi Gracia) and finally me. Thank you, Anil Murthy.”
Valencia did manage to wrap up three loan deals in January, with striker Patrick Cutrone joining from Wolves along with Benfica defender Ferro and Cagliari midfielder Christian Oliva.
But Valencia have won just six of their 25 league games this season, leaving them only five points above the drop zone.
It saw former Arsenal man Gabriel Paulista break down in tears during a post-match interview at the weekend.
Speaking after the 3-0 defeat to Getafe, he said: “It’s a bummer hearing that (we are in a relegation fight).
“A big a club as Valencia and hearing that is a bummer, but we have to get out of this because we’re Valencia and the club deserves more.”