West Ham United transfer news: Hammer ‘promise’ to return for £11m Pablo Maia amid Fulham interest
West Ham United and Fulham are set to return with maximum force in their attempts to sign Brazilian midfielder Pablo Maia, according to journalist Andre Hernan.
Brazilian media outlet Lance reported on 15 December that the Hammers had made a proposal of a loan deal with an option to buy ahead of the January transfer window, but a move never materialised.
Speaking on his YouTube channel (12 May), Hernan shared that West Ham have “promised to return” in their quest to sign the midfielder, who is valued by São Paulo at a price of £11million.
Both London clubs have already made contact to sign the 21-year-old, who has made 40 appearances since breaking into the Sao Paulo first-team in 2022.
Depth required
With Declan Rice seeming ever more likely to leave West Ham United this summer, David Moyes desperately needs to add some reinforcements to his squad for the 2023/24 season.
Behind the 24-year-old, there is little depth in the middle of the park, with Tomas Soucek, Flynn Downes and Lucas Paquetá the only real options the Hammers can call upon in central midfield.
Soucek is yet to sign a new contract at the London Stadium, and he has looked a shadow of his former self at times this season.
Therefore a move for Maia makes complete sense, and at just £11million, he could be a low-risk but high-reward move if he managed to adapt to the Premier League successfully.
Although Fulham remain interested in the midfielder’s services, West Ham should have the finances to blow their fellow Londoners out of the water if Rice does indeed leave the club for a transfer fee in the region of £100million.