With one transfer swoop, West Ham United may have gone from goal-starved to a feeding frenzy.
West Ham and Pachuca have agreed to a fee for Ecuadorian star forward Enner Valencia. After starring for La Tricolor at the World Cup, the 25-year-old will now head to the Premier League pending a physical.
The money is believed to be close to $25 million, which is about what West Ham paid to bring Andy Carroll over from Liverpool.
A strike force of Carroll and Valencia could be major trouble for opponents, which would be a major shift from 2013/14. The Hammers only scored 40 goals last season and were shut out in 15 of 38 Premier League contests, with an injury to Carroll hurting the offense.
The Hammers fought off competition from a host of Europe’s leading clubs to secure the services of the 25-year-old from Mexican side Pachuca.
Valencia, who impressed hugely in scoring three goals for his country at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, will join West Ham on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
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Prior to his eye-catching World Cup performances, Valencia came to the attention of English football fans when he headed Ecuador in front in their pre-tournament draw with Roy Hodgson’s side in Miami.
In Brazil, he picked up where he had left off by opening the scoring in Ecuador’s first group-stage fixture against Switzerland. He then netted both goals as the South Americans defeated Honduras 2-1, taking his tally to seven in 13 internationals.
Valencia becomes West Ham’s fifth summer signing following the captures of Argentine forward Mauro Zarate, Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, left-back Aaron Cresswell and promising youngster Diego Poyet.
It’s a big coup for the Hammers, who struggled to survive the Premier League schedule last season. Pachuca will be hard-pressed to replace the reigning Liga MX goal leader, as Valencia’s 12 goals were three higher than anyone else in the Clausura.
