Most West Ham fans know that the club’s board will do all they can to save or make every penny they can when participating in transfer dealings.
That Lucas Pérez’s move to Deportivo Alavés has gone through so quickly could be a tactic to ensure the Guillermo Maripán move in the opposite direction does so as well.
It has been reported that West Ham are keen for the transfer of the Chilean centre back to be completed by the time the Copa America kicks off at the end of next week.
By moving Pérez on quickly, West Ham will likely be hoping their efforts and attitude are reciprocated by the La Liga club.
The Hammers have already had a bid of approximately £10million turned down, with Alavés holding out for a sum closer to the player’s 25 million euro release clause.
That West Ham are so keen to get this over the line quickly highlights Maripán is one of Manuel Pellegrini’s top transfer targets for the summer.
While there were other benefits to selling Pérez such as reducing the wage bill, it certainly isn’t inconceivable that the Hammers conducted their business regarding the sale of the Spaniard with Maripán in mind.
