West Ham United are reportedly keen to bring Flamengo star Gustavo Cuellar to the Premier League for £26m.
West Ham United already have one of the most highly-rated defensive midfielders anywhere in world football. So do they really need another one?
Declan Rice has come from nowhere to be one of England’s most coveted players in the last two years, establishing himself not only as one of the first names on West Ham’s team sheet but a key part of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad too.
But despite Rice’s rapid rise, he is expected to be joined at the London Stadium by Gustavo Cuellar.
According to Radio Globo, West Ham are making a £26 million bid for the Flamengo star. And Cuellar himself told Caracol that he dreams of a move to Europe, the Premier League in particular.
But what would Cuellar bring to West Ham? Well, according to South American expert Tim Vickery, very little that they don’t already have in Rice.
“His problem would be Declan Rice. Cuellar would be back up to him. He’s a huge idol of the Flamengo fans, he’s very classy in front of the centre backs, he wins his tackles, he’s quick and he passes well,” Vickery told Hawksbee and Jacobs on talkSPORT (5 June, 3.30pm).
“But I would see him as back up to the excellent Declan Rice.”
Radio Globo pointed out that Cuellar is likely to return to Flamengo until December, when the Brazilian Serie A season comes to an end, before joining West Ham at the start of 2020.
And any fans worrying that he could be Rice’s replacement should remember that the academy graduate only recently signed a new, long-term deal.
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