Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United want Pablo Maia but Sao Paulo are trying to block the midfielder from leaving in January.
90Min claimed earlier this month that West Ham have been trying to sign midfielder Maia alongside teammate Luizao.
Fulham and Tottenham are also tracking Maia though and could rival West Ham for Maia’s signature in 2023.
IG Esporte in Brazil report that Sao Paulo are expecting to make ‘a good amount of money’ for Maia very soon.
However, Sao Paulo don’t want to sell Maia during the January window.
It’s suggested that Sao Paulo believe they can make even more money for Maia by selling him during the summer European transfer window.
Maia’s thoughts are unclear but you could hardly blame him if he wanted to make the move to Europe right now.
These opportunities don’t come along all that often and Maia may feel that he wants to take the chance whilst it’s on the table.
Add in that Sao Paulo want more money and Maia may feel that a summer move could be blocked with clubs potentially taking their business elsewhere.
Who is Tottenham and West Ham target Pablo Maia?
Maia, 20, started out with a couple of little-known Brazilian clubs, Independente de Limeira and Portuguesa Santista.
Sao Paulo pounced in 2017 and Maia has now progressed through the ranks with one of Brazil’s biggest clubs.
Maia has now racked up 61 first-team appearances for Sao Paulo, bagging two goals and one assist.
Primarily a holding midfield player, Maia has even shown his versatility by playing as a number 10 and as a centre back.
How many players around can claim to have played in all of those positions?
That versatility with Maia may well attract Tottenham and West Ham, but convincing Sao Paulo to sell next month sounds like a very difficult challenge.
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