A top Tim Steidten transfer target has started following West Ham stars on social media in the clearest indication yet he’s on his way.
It says everything about the modern world of transfers that many West Ham fans won’t believe a deal is done until they see a picture of technical director Tim Steidten on a plane with the player and his agent.
That became Steidten’s trademark when he joined the Hammers last summer.
And West Ham fans are hoping they’ll be seeing a lot more of it in what is one of the club’s most important windows for years.
Six to eight quality signings are needed to help Julen Lopetegui transform the Hammers into a team that can play a more attractive brand of football.
So what better way than by bringing Brazilian flair to east London?
That very much seems to be the foundation Steidten is going for after setting up camp in Brazil for the last few weeks.
The German has tried to sign Corinthians winger Wesley Gassova and Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno only for both deals to collapse.
Fans cautious until they see Steidten’s trademark picture
Since then West Ham’s attentions have turned to Palmeiras star Luis Guilherme, Internacional defender Vitao and Brazilian striker Rwan Seco.
The Hammers even threw their hat in the ring for Brazilian goalkeeper Carlos Miguel.
Given the collapse of the other deals, many West Ham fans are proceeding with caution regarding the others.
The move for Guilherme has become something of a typical Hammers transfer saga.
That too looked on the brink of collapse.
Now it is being widely reported the deal is all but done and the 18-year-old will be having his medical this week.
Many fans won’t believe it until they see Steidten on the plane with Guilherme, though.
However, there could be some reassurance for supporters.
Because the top Steidten target has started following West Ham stars on social media.
Top Steidten target starts following West Ham stars
When news emerged yesterday that Guilherme is all but a done deal, he suddenly started following several Hammers stars.
Guilherme is currently on duty with Brazil Under 20s.
And he took to his Instagram to start following West Ham top scorer Jarrod Bowen, Hammers captain Kurt Zouma and fellow Brazil-born star Emerson Palmieri.
Oddly enough he hasn’t started following West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico Lucas Paqueta.
Guilherme is also following former Hammer Felipe Anderson, so he will have been aware of his West Ham links amid his potential move.
Such is the way of the modern world, Guilherme’s sudden following spree of the three Hammers is a clear indication a move is in the offing imminently.
So this on-off saga finally looks to be very much on after all the claims and counter claims.
Excitement but concern over Guilherme
Ironically it seems the man who made the difference to get the deal done is someone very well known to Hammers fans of a certain vintage.
Now Steidten will be dearly hoping Guilherme can prove himself in the toughest league in the world coming straight from Brazilian football.
Video compilations show Guilherme boasts outrageous skill and pace.
So Hammers supporters are understandably excited about his potential.
But there are some concerns too.
Not only about bringing a raw 18-year-old from Brazilian football straight into the Premier League.
But also about Guilherme’s statistics, which have become something of an elephant in the room during the process of trying to sign him. Especially as he has been likened to Mohammed Kudus and Ronaldinho.
Providing all is well with the medical, it is a case of one down and six or seven transfers to go for West Ham in a busy summer ahead.