West Ham United are trying to beat one of our former managers in the race to sign Brazilian centre-back Vitao this summer.
Vitao first emerged as a West Ham target earlier this month, when it was claimed that we made a £6.8 million bid for his signature.
Julen Lopetegui desperately needs to bolster his central defensive ranks in the summer transfer window, and is said to be prioritising the addition of a new centre-back before the start of the new season.
It’s no wonder as to why is it. David Moyes’s side shipped an embarrassing 74 Premier League goals last season.
That tally was only worsened by the three clubs who ended up getting relegated from the Premier League.
Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd both need upgrading on as a matter of urgency, and Vitao would fit the bill perfectly.
The Brazilian is a top-class centre-back, albeit a relatively unproven one, and he comes with the added bonus of being available for a really cheap fee.
Now it seems like the Hammers could beat one of our ex-managers to the 24-year-old’s signature…
West Ham trying to hijack former manager’s move to sign Vitao
I really hope that Lopetegui manages to bring the South American centre-back to the London Stadium this summer.
The 24-year-old might be somewhat of an unknown quantity, but he has all of the ingredients needed to succeed in the Premier League.
He’s tall, strong in the air, quick along the ground and has real athleticism. On paper, he seems to be the ideal type of centre-back we need.
And all that’s standing between the Hammers and Vitao is one of our ex-managers it seems…
According to a report from ABC, Internacional are willing to sell the defender of just £8.5 million this summer.
Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini, wants to bring him to La Liga, but now faces stiff competition from the Hammers.
After the Chilean nearly relegated us in the 2019/20 season, beating him to the signing of Vitao would be poetic justice for West Ham.
This will certainly be an interesting one to keep a very close eye on between now and the end of the summer transfer window.
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