West Ham United have pulled the plug on their pursuit for Palmeiras wonderkid Luis Guilherme after owner David Sullivan refused to sanction a £30 million deal for the teenager.
EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that, a few days after talks for Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno broke down for financial reasons, the discussions over one of the brightest young talents in South America have ended in similar circumstances.
West Ham United reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £15 million for Bruno, the towering Brazil international. He wanted £100,000-a-week at the London Stadium, however, a demand The Hammers were unwilling to meet.
HITC can now reveal that Bruno’s compatriot Luis Guilherme is also now increasingly unlikely to be plying his trade in claret and blue come 2024/25.
West Ham’s Luis Guilherme deal takes a turn
Owner David Sullivan has pulled the plug with Palmeiras holding out for £30 million. The West Ham chief drew the line at £25 million, and also did not sanction a contract that would have seen Guilherme become one of the highest paid teenagers in the Premier League.
HITC understands that if Guilherme and his representatives lower their demands, their is a chance the deal could be resurrected – but not at it’s current level.
Clearly, West Ham are looking to make more use of the South American market these days. They tried to sign Internacional striker Yuri Alberto for £14 million last summer – director Tim Steidten jetting out for talks in South America – while also making an offer for the £25 million-rated Corinthians winger Wesley Gassova.
But the 2023 Europa Conference League winners will not be forced into splashing out considerable sums, even if Sullivan’s caution is likely to frustrate a fanbase already disillusioned by how last season panned out prior to David Moyes’ departure and Julen Lopetegui’s subsequent arrival.
HITC reported a few months back that Liverpool were pushing hard for the £30 million-rated Guilherme, amid rival interest from not only West Ham but also Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Still only 18, Guilherme has been clocked at a top speed of 36 km/h, making him allegedly faster than Mo Salah and earning him comparisons with one Kylian Mbappe (Globo Esporte).
Hammers looking at Brazil’s biggest talents
“Luis doesn’t get carried away. He knows the potential he has,” Joao Paulo Sampaio, Palmeiras’ youth director, told The Guardian when Guilherme was included in the annual list of ‘the 60 best young talents in world football’.
“He’s a very special player.”
Palmeiras are already expected to lose two of their other baby-faced starlets this summer. Endrick, fresh from scoring the winner for Brazil at Wembley in March, is on his way to Real Madrid while Chelsea have agreed a deal worth up to £60 million for Estevao Willian.
“People in football already knew about him,” Endrick’s agent, Facundo Pena, told The Telegraph. “All of the top clubs came in. Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea and, of course, Real Madrid.
“I think Real decided that they were never going to miss another talent like Vini (Vinicius Junior) or Endrick after Neymar moved to Barcelona.
“Maybe there is a lesson for Chelsea because they were in front at the start.”
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