Fabricio Bruno to West Ham United transfer breakdown on cards as new factor emerges
Fabricio Bruno’s proposed move to West Ham is on the brink of collapse in part due to rival interest from Saudi Arabia, according to Jacob Steinberg.
The Guardian journalist reported via the paper’s website on 30 May that the Irons had agreed a £12.5million deal with Flamengo for the defender.
But personal terms and potential options in the Middle Eastern league mean the transfer is now in danger of breaking down.
Julen Lopetegui looks set to miss out on new West Ham defender
Unfortunately for Hammers fans this may seem like an ominous development at the start of the summer when the club had been looking to make a fast start to the transfer window and the Julen Lopetegui era.
Dithering and delays have been a frustrating feature of previous West Ham transfer windows so it was a positive to see Tim Steidten trying to get ahead of the game ready for the official start of the new Spanish manager.
If wages are proving to be an issue with a player where a deal had already been worked out with his club it might increase fears that the presumed big-money sale of Lucas Paqueta being lost due to his FA charge is impacting transfer plans, although talks are reportedly underway for the exciting Palmeiras attacker Luis Guilherme.
The Saudi Pro League isn’t throwing money around in such wild quantities as it was a year or so ago but may still be willing to pay more for a 28-year-old centre-back than the Irons, so the sudden breakdown of the Bruno deal perhaps makes more sense in that context.
In isolation it is perhaps sensible for West Ham not to overpay but it harks back to David Moyes’ similar unwillingness to spend too much, although possibly laudable, that sometimes left the squad lacking.
If the Irons do lose Bruno to the Middle East they will likely be hoping to also benefit from spending in Saudi Arabia after links to the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, but missing out on an early agreement at such a late stage will be a frustration either way.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are in a heated battle to sign an award-winning attacking star.
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