West Ham United are reportedly in talks to bring Benfica’s Joao Felix to the Premier League amid alleged interest from Manchester City.
West Ham United could soon pull off another superb transfer coup, even if 18-year-old Joao Felix is hardly a household name in England.
According to Sky Sports on Wednesday, West Ham are in talks with Benfica about signing their highly-rated teenager and it is understood that they are set to beat two Premier League rivals, as well as German giants Borussia Dortmund, to his signature.
The exciting Felix has only ever played for Benfica’s B team, so there is a limited sample size to figure out just how promising he is. But the fact that the attacking midfielder has already earned five caps for Portugal’s U21s speaks volumes.
As do reports back in March from O Jogo claiming that the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Monaco were all interested in the teenager, who is understood to have a release clause of £52 million.
The same publication reported in April too that Arsenal were willing to negotiate a deal worth up to £35 million for a player who had not even made his first-team debut for the Primeira Liga giants.
It is not known how much West Ham will pay for Felix, or whether it is anywhere near the £35 million quoted four months ago. But suggestions that Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Leonardo Jardim are all firm admirers should give Hammers fans something to look forward, too if negotiations go well.
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