Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Real Betis defender Luiz Felipe could be on his way to Saudi Arabia for £21 million after West Ham United held talks over a potential switch to the Premier League.
If West Ham have called off negotiations with Manchester United for Harry Maguire – The Telegraph reporting that a new centre-half is no longer a priority in the final week of the window – then he can draw a thick line through the club’s supposed pursuit of Luiz Felipe too.
The Conference League champions completed the signing of Stuttgart’s Konstantinos Mavropanos last week. Edson Alvarez, the £35 million addition from Ajax, is also capable of thriving in the centre of defence.
As such, Felipe will be wasting his time if he still waiting by the phone for an offer from West Ham.
West Ham won’t sign Real Betis ace Luiz Felipe now
Estadio Deportivo reported around six weeks ago that Felipe’s camp had informed Real Betis of the defender’s desire to join the Hammers.
But while the former Lazio ace may have been under consideration by Moyes’ side, it seems unlikely that he was anything more than a back-up target; West Ham prioritising Maguire before then turning their attention to Mavropanos rather than Felipe.
And, according to Fabrizio Romano, if Felipe is to go anywhere this summer, his destination is more than likely to be Saudi Arabia.
“Al Ittihad have submitted formal bid for Luiz Felipe after talks on Monday,” Romano writes on the artist formerly known as Twitter. “(Al Ittihad are offering) 22 million euros fixed fee plus 3 million in add-ons.
“(They are) expecting to get the deal done today with Betis and on the player’s side. Betis are already looking for a new centre-back as potential replacement.”
In addition to Mavropanos and Alvarez, a West Ham side with seven points from a possible nine to start the new season have also invested heavily in James Ward-Prowse and Mohammed Kudus.
A centre-forward – rather than a centre-half – now appears to be Moyes’ priority before this week’s deadline. West Ham have reportedly seen a bid of £15.5 million rejected by Corinthians for Yuri Alberto.
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