You can often learn a lot about the potential of a new signing by how unhappy his former boss is to lose him. That is certainly the case about a man who arrives at West Ham United early in the summer window.
The Hammers’ £25 million acquisition may be only 18 years of age. He may have played just 24 league games without scoring a single goal.
But Luis Guilherme is viewed as one of the most exciting youngsters to emerge out of Brazilian football for a reason, West Ham pulling off quite the coup when they struck a deal for a teenager who was also on the radars of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, HITC understands.
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira, meanwhile, is certainly not pleased to see Guilherme depart. The manager even implored the club’s president Leila Pereira to stop the deal in it’s tracks, even if the financial muscle of the Premier League meant his demands were always likely to go unanswered.
West Ham United sign Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras
“Do you know what the difference is between the (Brazilian) real and the euro or the dollar? So, it’s difficult,” Ferreira tells Globo Esporte, having also lost Endrick to Real Madrid and the so-called ‘Little Messi’ Estevao Willian to Chelsea.
“We ask Leila not to sell Endrick, Estevao, Luis Guilherme. But it is impossible. We are talking about very large amounts. And my job is to find solutions.
“I think that the one who can really benefit from this in the medium and long term is the Brazilian team, if they are careful to follow these players, because you see (their potential).”
Guilherme likes to cut in from the right onto his left foot. With Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus also more comfortable off that flank, however, it remains to be seen how Lopetegui can find a system to suit all three players.
Bowen certainly has the skillset to be deployed as a centre-forward week in, week out. Kudus, meanwhile, could thrive as a number ten if Lucas Paqueta finds himself out of action for the foreseeable future.
Hammers shopping in the Brazilian market
“(I feel) happiness and pride,” Palmeiras’ academy manager Joao Paulo Sampaio told the club’s official website last week “I’m happy for the person Luis. Not only the club and his family will benefit from this, but he (will) too.
“He is an extraordinary boy and human being who will be greatly missed. He will conquer the world and will always be in our hearts. Brazilian football will have a future with him too.”
Guilherme was part of the Palmeiras team who won the Brazilian league title in 2023.
HITC, meanwhile, understands that West Ham also made an offer for Corinthians winger Wesley Gassova while a deal for Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno broke down due to personal terms. The Hammers have shifted their focus to Max Kilman, the Wolves captain who thrived under Lopetegui at Molineux.
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