Sao Paulo director Carlos Belmonte admits there are Premier League offers for Pablo Maia with West Ham United, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur among those interested in the midfielder, speaking to Terra.
One of Brazil’s biggest clubs have already lost two of their most exciting youngsters to English football this year. Marquinhos joined Arsenal for a bargain £3 million. And Luizao, last week, confirmed that he will be a West Ham player in 2023.
Maia could be joining the 20-year-old centre-half at the London Stadium soon enough; Lance claiming that David Moyes’ Hammers have had an initial loan bid rejected for the £9 million-rated Maia.
Per 90Min and UOL, Spurs, Nottingham Forest and Southampton are also chasing the tough-tackling 20-year-old. Fulham, meanwhile, appear to be at the front of the queue, even if their £6.5 million bid also fell short of Sao Paulo’s demands.
Fulham lead West Ham and Tottenham in race for Sao Paulo’s Pablo Maia
“I’m not afraid to say that Pablo Maia is the most coveted player in our squad right now,” Belmonte explains. “(For) Pablo Maia, we have polls almost daily. Mainly from English football. English clubs understand that he (would) adapt very well to the English game.
“He is a very valuable player today. And I can assure you that we have already turned down important offers for Pablo Maia.”
Sao Paulo are reportedly holding out for around £9 million. Fulham have already enjoyed real success when signing Brazilian players since returning to the Premier League; Willian and Andreas Pereira making a big impact under Portuguese-speaking head coach Marco Silva at Craven Cottage.
“It’s a dream of mine to play in Europe,” Maia admits. “But my family and representatives take care of that. I just focus on playing football.”
Maia, equally effective in and out of possession, is a midfielder in the Harrison Reed mould; industrious, energetic, not afraid of a tackle but also comfortable with the ball at his feet.
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