GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Chivas will attempt to lure West Ham striker Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez back to his first club as it prepares for the Club World Cup in December, a source has confirmed to ESPN FC.
The news was first reported on Friday morning by Cancha, which said Chivas could try to bring Hernandez in on a six-month loan after the World Cup and would be willing to pay 50 percent of the salary he currently earns at West Ham.
Chivas owner Jorge Vergara has given his approval on the potential deal, the source said.
Hernandez was born in Guadalajara, came up through Chivas’ academy and played for the first team for four years before moving to Manchester United in 2010.
The 29-year-old has long expressed his love for Chivas — where his grandfather is also a club legend — although the striker has also been linked regularly with a move to MLS.
Earlier this week, separate sources told ESPN FC that Hernandez is ready to leave West Ham and that the Premier League club is willing to listen to offers near the £16 million fee they paid Bayer Leverkusen for the Mexico international in 2015.
Hernandez said in February that he had wanted out of West Ham during the January transfer window in order to get more minutes ahead of the World Cup.
“Yes, it was the case that I wanted to go,” Hernandez told The Mirror. “Not because I don’t like West Ham, but because I need to have minutes on the pitch.”
Chicharito has started 16 Premier League for West Ham this season and netted eight goals, but manager David Moyes has preferred to use the Mexican off the bench.
Chivas won the CONCACAF Champions League last month, defeating Toronto FC on penalties in the final, and will represent the region at the Club World Cup, though there have been protests by players about the lack of bonus payments for recent titles.
Hernandez is set to be a key figure for Mexico in Russia this summer, having headed into the last two World Cups as a substitute.
Tom Marshall covers Liga MX and the Mexican national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @MexicoWorldCup.
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