Sao Paulo coach Rogerio Ceni has reiterated that defender Luizao is ‘very likely to leave’ amid claims that the Fulham target is on the verge of joining Premier League rivals West Ham United, speaking to UOL.
Could the Hammers secure their first January signing before the second week of November? No one could accuse David Moyes’ out-of-sorts side of sitting on their hands, with Luizao expected to put pen to paper on a long-term deal in the coming days.
Fulham are big fans of the 20-year-old centre-half.
According to Brazilian reporter Andre Hernan, however, Luizao is set to sign a pre-contract agreement with London neighbours West Ham instead; a deal which could be made official before the Qatar World Cup gets underway.
And, having failed to extend Luizao’s contract, Sao Paulo boss Ceni is under no illusions about what the future holds for one of his prized assets.
West Ham United set to beat Fulham to Sao Paulo defender Luizao
“There must be players who leave. Probably six, seven, or eight players will leave. Luizao is very likely to leave,” Ceni adds. “Not that the club wants it, but (he will leave) because of the player’s desire.
“The contract is expiring in January. We will have some departures and changes. It’s part of (football). It’s a painful process.”
Luizao will officially become a free-agent on January 31st. A left-footed central defender, he is likely to act as a back-up option at West Ham initially, with Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd expected to remain ahead of him in Moyes’ pecking order.
“Luizao will sign a pre-contract with West Ham in England,” Hernan explains. “(He will be a West Ham player in the next few days.”
Interestingly, West Ham are also looking at another Brazil-based youngster; Vasco da Gama winger Eguinaldo. Marco Silva’s Fulham, meanwhile, are keeping tabs on Luizao’s Sao Paulo team-mates Igor Gomes, Rodrigo Nestor and Pablo Maia (UOL).
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