There’s been another big twist as technical director Tim Steidten pivots to new West Ham targets while in Brazil.
They say there’s never a dull moment with West Ham and that’s been the case again overnight.
West Ham are looking to get signings completed early on in the summer transfer window.
The Hammers are hoping to sign around eight players and technical director Tim Steidten wants to get three of them in for new head coach Julen Lopetegui’s first official day of work on July 1st.
The Spaniard has of course been working alongside Steidten on West Ham’s transfer plan behind the scenes.
And that looked to have paid off after a deal was struck with Flamengo for Brazil centre-back Fabricio Bruno.
Bruno deal hits turbulence
Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano even gave West Ham’s move for Bruno his trademark ‘here we go’ seal.
But last night the Bruno deal hit turbulence with claims he is now demanding better personal terms.
Brazilian journalist Vene Casagrande made the shocking revelation, reporting that West Ham’s £12.5m deal with Flamengo for their first signing of the summer could now collapse.
Now there has been a further development it seems.
There’s a big twist as Steidten pivots to new West Ham targets while in Brazil.
According to Casagrande the West Ham director is in Brazil as we speak as he looked to finalise the Bruno deal.
Steidten pivots to new targets in Brazil
West Ham have also been in talks with Corinthians for Wesley Gassova.
But Casagrande says Steidten is refusing to meet Bruno’s new demands.
And instead – determined to leave no stone unturned – the German has attended other games and made moves for new targets.
“The West Ham director who is in Rio to try to close the purchase of Fabricio Bruno from Flamengo will go to Maracanã this Wednesday to watch the Fluminense game and analyse players, of course,” Casagrande said.
“In fact, the English team will not increase the salary offer for the Fla defender. In other words, the sale is in the hands of Fabricio Bruno. Rubro-Negro has already agreed to sell and is awaiting a response from the athlete as soon as possible.”
Offer for sensation is shutdown
The journalist has also revealed Steidten made an initial offer to Palmeiras for teenage midfield sensation Luis Guilherme only to be shutdown instantly.
“More information about the West Ham director who is in Rio to try to buy Fabricio Bruno from Flamengo,” he added.
“This week, the English club’s representative went to São Paulo and even talked to Palmeiras about Luis Guilherme, but the Alviverde board didn’t even want to move forward with a possible negotiation for the sale of the 18-year-old midfielder.”
Hammers focus on Brazil market
Last night we suggested this could be some brinkmanship from Bruno or Flamengo.
But it seems Steidten is in no mood to allow West Ham to be played.
He certainly got to see an entertaining match by going to watch Fluminense. They beat Alianza Lima 3-2.
Three goals in five minutes after half-time had the scores at 2-2 but Fluminense won it in the last 10 minutes.
Whether Steidten attended the game to look at a potential alternative to Bruno isn’t clear.
What is abundantly clear, though, is that West Ham are very much looking to do lots of business in the Brazilian market this summer.