English Premier League squad West Ham United is reportedly targeting Germany international Mario Gomez this summer as head coach Slaven Bilić wants to improve his attacking options in the upcoming new season.
The 30-year-old German striker is currently suited up for Turkish team Besiktas JK where he was sent on loan by mother club Fiorentina last summer. He scored an outstanding 26 goals in 33 appearances in the Turkish Süper Lig last season, which had attracted some attention from teams of the bigger leagues around the world.
Gomez is currently competing in the 2016 UEFA European Championship and, in a squad composed of big names such as Thomas Müller, Mesut Özil, Toni Kroos, Mario Götze, and Bastian Schweinsteiger, is Germany's surprise leading goalscorer with two goals so far in the tournament, Caught Offside noted.
Bilić, himself a former Besiktas manager, was not able to handle Gomez during his time in Turkey as he was signed by West Ham at the same time the Riedlingen, West Germany native joined the Black and Whites.
The 47-year-old bench tactician will be given the chance to mentor him now if the deal to join the Hammers will push through for Gomez.
West Ham has been "linked with a number of different strikers this summer as they seek to build on an impressive debut season" under their new coach Bilić, but their top priority is said to be the high-scoring Gomez at the moment, according to The Sun.
The Hammers finished at the seventh spot of the English top flight table last term, Bilić's first with the squad, which clinched the club the third and final Europa League qualification berth for next season. It was a significant improvement from the season before when West Ham finished 12th in the standings.
Gomez is expected to help French midfielder Dimitri Payet, who is also performing well in this summer's Euros, and English striker Andy Carroll in the team's goalscoring chores next season.
Payet led West Ham in scoring last term with 12 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions followed by Carroll who netted nine goals in 32 games overall for the Irons.
Gomez first showcased his scoring prowess in the Euros during their group stage match with Northern Ireland as he netted the lone goal of the match. He then scored his second goal of the tournament in Germany's 3-0 rout of Slovakia in the Round-of-16 competitions.