Rennes set to match West Ham United proposal as Fabricio Bruno transfer decision looms
West Ham United’s £11.6million bid for Brazilian defender Fabricio Bruno is expected to be matched by Rennes, according to Julio Miguel Neto.
The Brazilian journalist posted on X, reporting that Bruno is set to bid farewell to his current club Flamengo on Wednesday (7 August), as he makes a decision on whether he’ll join the Hammers or the Ligue 1 side.
The Irons have submitted a bid of £11.6m plus £1.3m in add-ons to Flamengo for the centre-back, with Renes reportedly set to increase their own offer to exactly match the proposal from the London Stadium.
Bruno turned down a move to the Hammers earlier this summer after personal terms fell through [ESPN Brazil, 3 June], but has now reportedly agreed a four-year deal with Rennes after his representatives held negotiations in São Paulo.
West Ham could still beat Rennes to Fabricio Bruno transfer
While Bruno has seemingly had much better success in negotiating a contract with the Rennes board than he did with Tim Steidten in June, the Irons’ interest in the Brazilian international hasn’t gone away.
At present, they still appear to hold the cards over Rennes in their bid to seal a transfer for the defender, and would likely be able to outspend the French side even if their current bid of £11.6m is matched.
Centre-backs are high on the agenda for Julen Lopetegui this summer [Dharmesh Sheth, 7 August], and though the Spaniard brought in ex-Wolves captain Max Kilman after Bruno’s first rejection, another addition is expected.
Bruno would join fellow Brazilian Luis Guilherme in East London if he does go full circle and agree to a switch, while another South American in Guido Rodriguez also recently joined the Lopetegui project.
That project has been framed upon building a new-look defence ahead of the Premier League kicking off, and pinching Bruno from under Rennes’ noses would be another sign that the Irons mean business.
In other West Ham news, Fabrizio Romano has given his verdict on the Irons’ chances of signing another long-term transfer target.
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