Zola waves his magic wand to capture Chilean ´Wizard´

Italian champions’ Inter Milan’s Chilean international striker Luis Jimenez was snapped up on loan by English Premier League side West Ham on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old – known as the Wizard and capped 20 times – is the first signing for the Hammers Italian manager Gianfranco Zola this summer.

Jimenez – who hasn’t represented Chile for over a year – joins on a season-long loan with a view to a possible permanent move.

“I can’t promise anything but I am going to do everything possible to do a good job for the club,” Jimenez told West Ham’s website.

Jimenez made his name in Italy at Serie B side Ternana, where he scored 25 goals in 88 league appearances between 2002 and 2007.

Short spells at Fiorentina and Lazio followed before Inter Milan opted to buy him on a permanent basis after a promising loan spell in 2008.

Jimenez will have a tough battle to gain a regular first team place with England international squad members Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton and Spanish veteran Diego Tristan vying for places up front.