West Ham United may rival Newcastle United for Santos star Marcos Leonardo
West Ham are considering a January move for Santos striker Marcos Leonardo but face competition from a number of Premier League rivals, according to Graeme Bailey.
In an update for 90min on Wednesday (1 November), Bailey reported that West Ham, Newcastle United, Fulham and Brentford are all keeping tabs on Leonardo ahead of the window reopening.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have also previously been credited with an interest in the Brazil Under-20s international, while West Ham are said to have held initial talks with Santos earlier this year.
Bailey adds that other teams across Europe – Roma and Sporting CP among them – are also showing an interest in Leonardo, who is valued at around £20million by Santos.
Real talent
West Ham are in need of a striker in the January window and this seems like as good an option as any on the market.
While Leonardo is not exactly a household name, he is clearly a talented player given the amount of interest in him from heavyweight clubs.
That is backed up by the statistics, as the 20-year-old has scored 13 goals in 24 league appearances for Santos this year, while also chipping in with two assists.
United are said to have tried to sign him in the past without managing to do so, and they must ensure they are at the front of the queue come January.
Newcastle appear to also have a serious interest, though, and they are just as desperate for a striker of Leonardo’s calibre.
If West Ham can get to him first, they will have a real talent on their hands capable of giving the squad a big boost midway through the season.
In other West Ham news, a journalist says a recent decision made by David Moyes is a “travesty”.