Javier Hernandez is not “on the market” and is unlikely to leave West Ham before the start of the season, according to club sporting director Mario Husillos.
The 30-year-old has recently returned to the club after World Cup duty with Mexico, where El Tri advanced from the group stage for a seventh consecutive tournament, only to be eliminated by Brazil in the last 16.
Despite a bright start with West Ham, Hernandez’s future has been a subject of speculation after falling out of favour at London Stadium last season, when former manager David Moyes preferred Marko Arnautovic to lead the line.
The striker was a headline signing for the Hammers last year and Husillos, who worked with new manager Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga when they reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2012-13, believes the former Manchester City tactician’s arrival could provide Hernandez with a new lease of life.
In November, Hernández sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Mexico, and it was reported that he would be ruled out from activity for up to two weeks.Following the sacking of Slaven Bilić and the appointment of David Moyes as manager, there were fears Hernández would be excluded at West Ham as he was at Manchester United. In response, Moyes referred to him as a “top goalscorer,” and “a brilliant finisher.”
During the winter transfer window there were reports Hernández would exit the club after only six months, being linked with a move to Turkish club Beşiktaş as well as a possible return to Manchster United. On 20 January 2018, he came off the bench to score the equalizing goal for West Ham in their 1–1 league draw against Bournemouth, scoring his first goal since October. Following the match Moyes praised Hernández’s performance, saying “we needed him today.
Hernández is commonly known as Chicharito, meaning little pea in Spanish, and wears the name on his shirt.This is due to his father, Javier Hernández Gutiérrez, being nicknamed Chícharo (pea) because of his green eyes.