West Ham United are ready to step up their interest in Corinthians forward Paolo Guerrero, according to reports.
The Daily Mail claims that an initial loan agreement with a view to a permanent transfer is expected to be proposed in the coming days.
Manager Sam Allardyce has signed Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Mauro Zárate this summer, while he also has Carlton Cole, Ricardo Vaz Tê and Modibo Maïga at his disposal, but with Andy Carroll out injured, he is seemingly eager to bring in another forward.
Levski Sofia’s Valeri Bojinov is understood to be an option, though Guerrero arguably better represents the calibre of attacker Allardyce is looking for.
The 30 year-old, who spent ten years in Germany with Bayern Munich and Hamburger SV, was signed by Corinthians from the latter in July 2012 for £3.08 million.
The Peru international has gone on to score 22 goals in 55 appearances for the Timão and was part of a side that won the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup and 2013 Campeonato Paulista and Recopa Sudamericana.
This season, Guerrero has netted four times in 13 starts and is Corinthians’ top scorer alongside Jádson.
With a lack of goals from elsewhere – only five players have netted twice or more – Head Coach Mano Menezes would be loathed to lose Guerrero, but with his contract expiring in June 2015, the Corinthians hierarchy may be tempted to cash in.