West Ham United 'back to square one' after failed Fabricio Bruno move

Frank McAvennie says West Ham United are "back to square one" after their proposed move for Fabricio Bruno collapsed.

The Hammers had agreed a fee with Flamengo for the Brazilian defender, but the player turned down the club's contract offer and an improved bid was not submitted [O Globo].

And McAvennie - speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone - has lamented the public nature of the Irons' failed transfer pursuits.

"I'm always concerned when it comes to West Ham, because - why can't you just go and sign somebody and then make an announcement?" McAvennie said. "Why does everyone in the world know who we're going to sign?

"I thought the [deal] for the Brazilian centre-half [Bruno] was done. And I thought, 'Well, that's alright. Good. That's the right way forward.' Now we're back to square one."

Should West Ham United have improved their offer to Fabricio Bruno?

The attempt to sign Bruno appears to have been a creative attempt by the Irons' recruitment team to bolster the squad on the cheap.

The 28-year-old has never played outside of his native Brazil and it seems Tim Steidten and the Hammers hierarchy were expecting to get away with paying him a similar wage to the one he is currently receiving at Flamengo.

However, the Brazilian was keen to see his earnings rise to those more befitting a Premier League star and the club - clearly seeing him as a mere squad option - declined to meet those demands.

Given Bruno represented something of a risk, having never played in Europe before, it may prove a blessing in disguise that negotiations broke down when they did.

In other West Ham news, a Ben Johnson contract update has been shared amid Rangers’ transfer interest.

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