Relentless West Ham are already looking to bag signing number two says talkSPORT transfer reporter Alex Crook.
West Ham need to do plenty of business in the transfer window this summer.
And the Hammers certainly seem to mean business.
Technical director Tim Steidten has been in Brazil navigating a deal for teen sensation Luis Guilherme through some turbulence to get it over the line.
The 18-year-old is set to sign for West Ham in a £25m deal from Palmeiras.
Guilherme has been in London since Monday undertaking a thorough two-part medical and doing his media package for West Ham’s big unveiling of the Brazil Under 20 star.
Relentless Steidten eyes next target
He is a jet-heeled, skilful attacking midfielder who can play on both wings and through the middle.
So Guilherme ticks a lot of boxes for West Ham.
Over the weekend it was confirmed that the Hammers are indeed looking to sign between six to eight players this summer.
Among the positions Steidten and new head coach Julen Lopetegui are looking to strengthen is left sided attacker and forward.
With the ink still drying on Guilherme’s contract, the Hammers are not hanging around.
Because relentless West Ham are already looking to bag signing number two says Alex Crook.
West Ham already looking to bag signing number two
According to the talkSPORT transfer reporter, Steidten has instantly turned attentions to getting a deal done for Jota Silva.
Yesterday Hammers News reported on claims from Portugal that Silva, who can play off the left or as a forward, has been keeping himself in peak physical condition ahead of an expected move to West Ham.
The 24-year-old has a release clause of £17m at Vitoria Guimaraes.
And Crook claims Silva is the next order of business for West Ham’s technical director.
“It is shaping up to be a busy summer at London Stadium as new manager Julen Lopetegui attempts to put his own stamp on the side,” Crook said.
“The Hammers are in the final stages of completing a £30m deal for teenage Brazilian midfielder Luis Guilherme.
“Sporting director Tim Steidten is also weighing up whether to pursue a move for Vitoria Guimaraes wide man Jota Silva. Portuguese international Silva also has interest from Roma but would prefer a switch to the Premier League.”
Due to his hairstyle, some have dubbed Silva ‘the Poruguese Jack Grealish’.
But as Hammers News reported recently, he’s actually more like the ‘Iberian Jamie Vardy’ having fought his way up from the country’s bottom tier to represent his country.
New West Ham recruitment policy feels so fresh
Silva did not quite make the cut for Portugal’s star-studded Euro 2024 squad. That’s despite enjoying an excellent season in which he scored 14 goals and laid on five assists.
That does leave him free to speak to West Ham whereas other players are tied up with their national sides for the next month.
West Ham are said to be determined to have at least three players signed by July 1st.
It seems they’re well on their way and there could be exciting times ahead.
With Steidten in full control, West Ham finally look to be switching up their recruitment policy to try and find the next big thing at the right age for the right price, instead of always going after established – and often overpriced – stars.
Let’s hope we see the benefits of that under Lopetegui next season.
You can check out Jota in action in the video below.