After a superb season in the Bundesliga, West Ham signed Bayer Leverkusen and former Manchester United striker, Javier Hernandez on the 24th July 2017 for a reported £16 million fee.
The Mexico international signed a three-year deal and followed the then club record signing of Marko Arnautovic.
Despite many of the West Ham fans being ecstatic with the arrival of the former Man U man, he’s had a somewhat average career in east London so far and hasn’t quite managed to match the hype that some West Hams on Twitter had for him when he joined.
Amazing news!!!! Showing commitment and a hell of a lot of ambition!! LOVE IT!!! COYI
— Laura Nagle (@LauraNagle85) July 24, 2017
Well done Mr Chairman
— Rich WHUFC (@ironsrichie) July 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/fleece81/status/889587609705619457
Well played dave. Biggest signing since tevez, roll on the new season
— ⚒Eddie Wilson ⚒ (@swoopwing) July 24, 2017
Absolute bargain ! Great, great signing for us, a player that's gonna score goals for certain
— Lee Sifford ⚒ (@lee_sifford) July 24, 2017
During his time at Manchester United Hernandez or Chicharito, established himself as one of the better strikers in the league and although he may have not have been prolific or a regular starter for the club, when called upon, Hernandez always seemed to come up with a goal.
At Bayer Leverkusen, the Mexico international again improved upon his reputation, scoring 27 goals in his two years in the Bundesliga. As a result of that record, West Ham spent heavily to bring him back to the Premier League to lead the line. However, following a period of poor form and with Marko Arnautovic now being deployed as the main striker at the club, starts became harder to come by in the second half of the season.
Although he scored eight goals in 28 games last year, which is not terrible, the Mexico international has lost his place to Aranutovic and rightly so. The Austrian is simply just a better striker than he is.
This year again, Hernadez has had to play second fiddle and due to an injury, he’s seen little game time and in all likelihood, that will probably continue.
West Ham fans were right to be pleased with the signing but it probably hasn’t gone as well as they may have thought when he joined the club in 2017.
West Ham fans, what do you think?
