West Ham in Leo Pereira talks as Flamengo make swift transfer decision
West Ham are interested in signing Flamengo centre-back Leo Pereira.
West Ham have already signed Pablo and Taty Castellanos for £43.3million combined, and David Sullivan looks set to invest even more money into the team over the next month.
The Hammers currently sit 18th in the Premier League, and have conceded 43 goals in their first 21 matches.
As they sit seven points from safety, a defender is now a priority for Nuno Espirito Santo, and Pereira has been added to his shortlist.
However, Flamengo’s rigid stance on the 29-year-old’s future could make it hard for him to move to the London Stadium.
Flamengo already decide on Leo Pereira sale
The Brazilian defender has been playing for Flamengo since January 2020, making 280 appearances in that time.
He recently won the Serie A title (Brazil’s domestic league) at the end of 2025, scoring six goals and registering one assist in the competition.
Media outlet Bolavip Brasil reported that West Ham have contacted Flamengo over signing Pereira, with Mexican side Cruz Azul also interested.
However, the Brazilian champions have made it clear that they don’t want to negotiate his sale during January.
Flamengo want to retain a good portion of their title-winning squad for the 2026 season, and they aren’t planning for many players to leave.
| Stat | Pereira |
| Appearances | 34 |
| Pass accuracy | 93.6% |
| Duels won | 89 |
| Aerial duels won | 52 |
| Touches | 3,021 |
| Recoveries | 129 |
Pereira was named in the South American Team of the Year in 2025 and has won a total of 20 trophies in his senior career.
He is left-footed and would easily displace Max Kilman, who has struggled this season, in the pecking order.
West Ham are in dire need of defensive reinforcements, and signing someone who has come off the back of an impressive season would be a welcome addition to the dressing room.
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How many new signings could West Ham make in January?
Sullivan must do what it takes to get Pereira over the line, but he’s not the only player that the Hammers are targeting.
Oscar Mingueza could join West Ham, while Toulouse centre-back Charlie Cresswell and OH Leuven defender Roggerio Nyakossi are also linked with a move to E20.
In reality, the Hammers are targeting defenders, and they could sign as many as three players that fit the bill for their squad.
They look set in terms of strikers now, but some fresh legs could be added to the midfield if they are serious about trying to avoid relegation.
Having already spent a large chunk of their budget, the Hammers may need to offload someone valuable if they want to make several signings.
The likelihood is that West Ham will bring in three or four more new faces as they aim to secure Premier League survival against all the odds.
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