West Ham United want to sign Richard Rios as £12m transfer development emerges
West Ham United are in the hunt to sign Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios, according to TeamTalk.
The news outlet reported on Friday (2 August) that Everton, Leicester City and Manchester United are also keen on the 24-year-old, who shone for Colombia at Copa America this summer.
It is understood that Brazilian side Palmeiras could sell Rios for £12million.
West Ham United continue to add new players to Julen Lopetegui’s squad
It’s all hands on deck at the London Stadium right now.
Crysencio Summerville is reportedly undergoing a medical to join from Leeds United, talks are being held with Borussia Dortmund about Niclas Fullkrug [Sky Sports] and Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also a major target [HITC].
Lopetegui has already signed Wes Foderingham, Luis Guilherme and Max Kilman since being appointed as Hammers manager and if he gets the three other players that were mentioned, that would mean he’s added a goalkeeper, centre-back, full-back, two wingers and a striker to his squad.
The only place that will be left untouched, based on these names, would be the central midfield area.
The Irons do have strong options in the middle in James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek with the likes of George Earthy and Lewis Orford also coming through the academy.
But it wouldn’t hurt to add in a midfielder who South American football expert Tim Vickery called “a strong candidate to be the revelation of the season” who is “long-legged and dynamic, he looks to have a interesting future” [ESPN].
Rios impressed at Copa America as Colombia reached the final before losing to Argentina and before that, he wowed Vickey with his performance in a friendly against eventual Euro 2024 winners Spain.
For £12million, the Irons could use some of their South American links with Guilherme and Lucas Paqueta to bring Rios to the London Stadium.
In other West Ham news, the club could walk away from major transfer talks for a new signing.
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