Luiz Felipe’s representatives have informed Real Betis of West Ham United’s interest but reports in Spain suggest that the Premier League outfit have not yet made an offer for the Brazil-born Italy international.
It is over a week now since the 26-year-old’s agents arrived at the office of Real Betis’ sporting director, Ramon Planes, informing him of ‘strong interest’ from UEFA Conference League winners West Ham United.
According to Estadio Deportivo, Luiz Felipe’s camp also ‘demanded’ that talks be opened in the hope that a fee in the region of £17 million could be agreed.
Since then, things have gone a little quiet. Or, at least, a little quieter than you might have expected.
West Ham’s Luiz Felipe deal in limbo
Estadio Deportivo add – eight days on – Real Betis are still awaiting an offer from West Ham. Of course, there may be a number of reasons for this. Perhaps the Hammers have reservations about spending nearly £20 million on a centre-half when it is their midfield, post-Declan Rice, which is in greater need of reinforcements.
And then there’s that whole ‘Rice to Arsenal’ saga. Despite medical tests being undertaken, there is still nothing official regarding the Englishman’s £105 million move to the Emirates Stadium.
The Sun say that West Ham are becoming increasingly frustrated, fearing that further delays could cost them the chance to bring in their key targets.
West Ham, after all, cannot really begin re-investing that £105 million fee until it’s in their pocket.
Does Felipe, then, find himself in a Harvey Barnes sort of situation? The Leicester City winger was one of West Ham’s top targets. But he is now edging towards Newcastle with Moyes stuck in quicksand. Reports linking Edson Alvarez with a move to the London Stadium have gone cold too over the course of the last few days.
At this stage, it appears to be in the best interests of everyone to get that Declan Rice deal done. Sooner rather than later, too.
Because until it is, the likes of Felipe, Alvarez and Barnes are being left in the lurch.
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