Imagine, for a moment, that West Ham United were to lose Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta in the same summer.
It doesn’t bare thinking about.
Of course, there is still a good chance that Paqueta departs – providing he is not slapped with a lengthy ban and Manchester City return with a vengeance – but West Ham would never countenance the departure of their three star attackers in the space of only a few months.
And, OK the situations are not exactly indentical, but something akin to that is happening at Palmeiras right now.
Palmeiras lose starlets to West Ham United and Chelsea
Endrick‘s initial £30 million move to Real Madrid was confirmed all the way back in 2022 but he will officially become a team-mate of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and co this summer when he turns 18. Estevao Willian, HITC reports, is following in his footsteps with Chelsea agreeing a deal that could reach as much as £60 million.
West Ham, meanwhile, confirmed the signing of Luis Guilherme for £25.5 million on Thursday, the forward signing a five-year deal at the London Stadium.
Now, as we said, this is not quite the same as losing Kudus, Bowen and Paqueta. Endrick, Estevao and Guilherme are all teenagers, after all. Guilherme hasn’t even scored a senior league goal, while Estevao has only played 11 times.
But, still, Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira did not see this coming. Not only Endrick but Palmeiras’ other two prized assets all heading out the door with only eight games gone in the 2024 Brazilian Serie A season.
“We knew that, when the (international tournaments) started, we would lose some players to the national teams,” Ferreira begins, via JP. “But we didn’t count on (losing) so many due to sales. We already knew some situations, (such as) that Endrick was going to leave.
“Now, it’s Luis. Estevao is ready (to leave).”
By Ferreira’s admission, Palmeiras are struggling to compete with the funds on offer across the Atlantic. Estevao’s £60 million package will make him one of the most expensive teenagers in football history, while the near £30 million fee West Ham are stumping up for 18-year-old Guilherme is hardly pocket change either.
“The European currency is very strong and it is difficult to compete against them,” adds the former Braga, PAOK and Sporting Lisbon coach. “We have these issues to resolve.”
Hammers targeting the Brazilian market
Guilherme becomes West Ham’s first signing of the window. There is also interest in Wesley of Corinthians, though another £25 million asking price may put an end to that for now. Julen Lopetegui’s side were also hoping to land Fabricio Bruno, the Brazil international centre-half who won the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo.
Bruno is now expected to stay in South America for now, however, with his £100,000-a-week contact demands going down like a lead balloon.
“We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player,” beams director Tim Steidten, the 2023 Conference League champions landing one of South America’s most unpredictable and technically gifted propsects.
“He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time. Once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.
“Luis has enjoyed a fantastic start to his professional career with Palmeiras – naturally a wide player but with the flexibility to play across other attacking positions, which is an important and valuable factor in the modern game.
“He is technically very gifted, but also has very good physical qualities – great pace, strength and stamina, and these are traits that will help him to adapt to the demands of the Premier League and English football.”
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