West Ham United: Report details why Luizao January loan exit failed

West Ham defender Luizao was unable to seal a loan move away during the January transfer window due to salary requests, according to O Jogo.

The Portuguese website reported [14 March] that Portimonense and Estrela da Amadora were interested in the 22-year-old's services but no deal was reached after the parties could not come to an agreement over the player's salary.

It is understood that, with Monaco interested in a permanent deal in January, West Ham had set a £4.3million price tag, which the Ligue 1 outlet were unwilling to meet.

Will Luizao ever make his West Ham United senior debut?

At 22 years of age, the centre-back is coasting in the academy, having played 39 matches since arriving at the London Stadium in January 2023, with five goals. But he also seems a little rash with seven yellow cards to his name.

Having not yet made an appearance for the Hammers at senior level, and being a relatively unknown player in the Premier League, the gamble of signing Luizao does not seem to have paid off.

Though it will not have taken much money out of West Ham's pockets, signing for the club on a free transfer after running down his contract with Sao Paulo, the defender is now just collecting dust in London.

If David Moyes had any future plans for Luizao, he would have been involved with the first team by now. Once the summer transfer window comes around, the Hammers should allow the player to leave, whichever clubs come calling.

The defensive problems at the London Stadium in recent weeks should have opened the door for Luizao. However, that remains to be seen and West Ham's investment in the Brazilian has been a disappointment.

Fans and pundits have blasted each of Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Konstantinos Mavropanos throughout different points of the season, suggesting that West Ham could do with a new centre-back in the next transfer window.

In other West Ham news, a Sky Sports journalist has made an international prediction on one London Stadium star ahead of the upcoming break.

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