West Ham United have opened talks with Palmeiras’ Brazilian wonderkid Luis Guilherme and could firm up their interest imminently ahead of a battle with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.
After selling Endrick de Sousa to Real Madrid a few months back, Palmeiras are now courting interest from across the Atlantic for another of South America’s most exciting up-and-coming talents.
Luis Guilherme – a regular for Brazil at U20 level despite only turning 17 in February – is already a target for numerous English-based clubs.
Premier League Brasil report that West Ham have already opened talks with Guilherme’s representatives, and are understood to have the ‘upper hand’ despite rival interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
West Ham United in Luis Guilherme race
The report adds that West Ham are planning to kick-start negotiations with Palmeiras imminently too, potentially over the next couple of weeks. There are concerns that, if they do not move quickly enough, Guilherme’s reputation – and his price-tag for that matter – will ‘explode’ ahead of the January transfer window.
The teenager already has a £52 million release clause in his contract.
One of Brazil’s biggest talents
A typically skilful, typically ‘Brazilian’ attacker, Guilherme idolises Real Madrid duo Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior. He is the latest young talent from Brazil’s Serie A to catch the eye of West Ham, with David Moyes’ side now hoping to succeed where they failed with the likes of Lazaro and Yuri Alberto.
“Yuri Alberto commented that there was an offer to go to West Ham for 18 million euros,” Ricardo Bonomo, who works as an advisor to Corinthians president Dulio Monteiro Alves, told Meu Timao following the close of the summer window.
“He preferred not to (go to England) now, despite Yuri being in bad form and being heavily criticised. He is a player who will be able to rediscover his value.”
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