Agent said West Ham want £15m striker but he’s scored zero goals in eight games now

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No transfer window is ever complete at West Ham United without one centre-forward in particular being linked with the Premier League outfit.

Manchester United had Nico Gaitan and Wesley Sneijder. Tottenham Hotspur had Leandro Damiao.

West Ham United’s reported interest in Corinthians hitman Yuri Alberto, meanwhile, can be followed all the way back to the summer of 2022.

The Hammers were linked with the then-Zenit St Petersburg striker back in June of that year. One year later, Corinthians chief Ricardo Bonomo confirmed that West Ham United had seen a £15 million bid knocked back for a man who returned pretty quickly to Brazil once war broke out in Russia.

Yuri Alberto’s agent also confirmed West Ham’s approach a few weeks back. Clearly, this is a story with plenty of chapters still to be filled.

Especially with The Times backing up claims that the Brazil international features on Graham Potter’s summer wishlist.

“Our job is to take the offer to the club,” explains Andre Cury, Alberto’s representative. “We’ve had offers from Wolverhampton [Wanderers], West Ham, Real Betis. We’ve had offers from Italy and it never happened.

“But the player is young. Every player who’s in South America thinks about playing in Europe and it’s no different with Yuri. If there’s a good opportunity that’s good for him and the club, we’ll talk about it.”

Yuri Alberto drought goes on as West Ham United watch Brazil striker

Scorer of 31 goals in the 2024 Brazilian campaign – enough to win him the Golden Boot – Andre Cury described Alberto’s form last season as nothing short of ‘spectacular’.

Whatever adjective you would chose a few weeks into the new campaign, however, ‘spectacular’ certainly wouldn’t be at the forefront.

When talking to the Brazilian media after the midweek win over Novorizontino in the Copa do Brasil, a potential transfer was not the main topic of discussion. Instead, the talk turned to Yuri Alberto’s poor run of form.

Since the beginning of April, the former Internacional youngster has played eight games and scored in none of them.

The appointment of former Brazil coach Dorival Junior as Corinthians’ new boss, though, threatens to shake things up a little at the Neo Quimica Arena, with Alberto hoping that he can bring about a return to winning – and goalscoring – ways.

“It is the beginning of a new cycle and that naturally brings changes,” the 23-year-old says. “Coach Dorival is getting to know the group, testing ideas and formations. We are adapting and understanding what he wants. The most important thing is that everyone is committed.

“[The cup win] was a competitive game. A win away from home gives confidence.”

Brazil international has a big weakness which may concern West Ham

Now, Yuri Alberto has always been a centre-forward prone to purple patches and the odd barren spell. Even when claiming the Brazilian top-flight’s Golden Boot last year, a staggering 11 of his 15 goals came in the final nine matches of the season.

That means – for all your math-phobes out there – Alberto began the campaign with just four in 20.

Do not be surprised if he roars into life in the coming weeks before racking up a fearsome tally in the blink of an eye. But, as West Ham run the rule over their long-standing transfer target once more, perhaps Alberto’s tendency to go from the prolific to the profligate should pose a concern for a club who’s record when it comes to signing new number nines is hardly glowing.

TBR Football reported in December that, with his contract expiring in 2027, Corinthians may now be willing to accept a bid in the same region they rejected from West Ham a couple of years back.