ExWHUemployee shares truth behind West Ham United interest in Lazaro
West Ham United are not pursuing a deal for Brazilian playmaker Lazaro, despite reports of a £10m transfer according to ExWHUemployee.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move to the London Stadium and Flamengo’s chairman has confirmed that the London club have been in touch over a potential transfer.
However according to Ex, speaking on the West Ham Way podcast [August 22], the comments are agent motivated and a deal for the player hasn’t even been discussed this summer.
“I’ve been told that there isn’t any truth in that deal being close or even being particularly discussed,” he said.
“I think it was more agent motivated. I think the agents talked about that deal, they probably did offer him to West Ham at some point, the Flamengo chairman probably did add credit to that by saying West Ham are in for him but I don’t think West Ham are actually close to signing or have even made an offer to sign him.
“As it stands that deal is not close. We may have a fleeting interest in him but I haven’t been told that it’s close. That came directly from the club.”
Makes sense
Lazaro is obviously a talented player scoring four goals and registering two assists in 20 appearances in the Brazilian league so far at just 20-years-old.
However the type of player that Moyes has been targeting this summer is more proven at the highest level in Europe’s top leagues, so it was always a left-field suggestion in the press.
There are also concerns as to whether or not Lazaro would be able to get a work permit to move to England considering he’s uncapped for Brazil’s national team and hasn’t played that much for his club side either.
With attacking options in that position already including the likes of Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini it seems unlikely that someone unproven would come in and displace them in the squad.
The agents are obviously keen to get him a move and with West Ham expected to be busy in the market in the final ten days, they tried their luck. The club haven’t bitten the bait though and this deal won’t be happening.