Pablo Maia transfer possible at West Ham United after new Brazil developments
West Ham are a possible landing spot for Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia despite a serious thigh injury, according to the Daily Mail.
The Mail suggested on 19 November that the Hammers, as well as Arsenal and Fulham, could be home for the 22-year-old soon, who made his senior Brazil debut against England in March.
Maia has already made over 100 Brasileiro Serie A appearances for Sao Paulo, but a thigh injury picked up in May will rule him out of action, and most likely a transfer, until the new year at the earliest.
Can Pablo Maia transfer solve West Ham midfield problems?
While there’s a long list of issues which have become clear since Julen Lopetegui took the reins in East London, no area of the pitch needs more attention than the midfield [Andy Townsend, 11 November].
Lopetegui’s side have been exposed through the heart of their engine room time and time again this season, with Guido Rodriguez failing to impress despite starting every single Premier League game.
Edson Alvarez, a revelation alongside Tomas Soucek in David Moyes’ 4-2-3-1 last season, has already been sent off twice this term, while illness has also restricted Soucek to being in and out of the team.
Carlos Soler – signed on loan from PSG on transfer Deadline Day – doesn’t look to be the answer for Lopetegui, but signing a fit-again Maia from Sao Paulo could well prove to be.
Tim Steidten – clearly a fan of plucking players out of Brazil – has come under fire due to the Irons’ underwhelming recruitment, but Maia could end up being a new signing who does hit the heights.
In other West Ham news, one key Irons player is citing a lack of ambition from the club as he looks to force a transfer move away.
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