Fabrizio Romano has given his trademark ‘here we go’ to a key deal and it looks like the best news yet for Graham Potter’s West Ham rebuild.
Graham Potter signed off last season teasing an ‘exciting and interesting’ summer transfer window for West Ham.
The Hammers boss has started the window by taking a break with his family.
Potter is coming under fire from some West Ham fans for holidaying instead of focusing solely on his Hammers overhaul.
Especially given what is at stake next season after a dismal 14th place finish.
West Ham have already made it clear the midfield and striker departments are priority.
Young Celtic forward Daniel Cummings is set to join the Hammers as a free agent on July 1.
Potter wants to give West Ham’s midfield legs again
Potter wants at least one – if not two – more strikers in addition to Cummings with doubts over the future of both Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug.
In the meantime, attentions have turned to midfield.
West Ham are desperately lacking energy and dynamism in the middle of the park.
It is a problem Potter has inherited after Tim Steidten, Julen Lopetegui and David Moyes failed miserably to adequately address it since the departure of Declan Rice.
Offers will be considered for Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez, Tomas Soucek and Andy Irving.
Meanwhile West Ham fans have been totally unimpressed by James Ward-Prowse under Potter.
Several young, exciting midfielders have been linked with moves to the London Stadium of late.
Man City are rivalling West Ham for Ardon Jashari of Club Brugge.
West Ham have also been linked with his club teammate Raphael Onyedika and Man City’s James McAtee.
In fact the Hammers have been given encouragement over Onyedika and McAtee.
Genoa’s tenacious ball-winning midfielder Morten Frendup is also said to be a top West Ham target.
Now all roads lead to Richard Rios for West Ham as Fabrizio Romano gives the ‘here we go’ to a key deal.
All roads lead to Rios for West Ham as Romano gives ‘here we go’
The Hammers have been heavily linked with Rios since Potter’s arrival in January.
But a move for the Colombian ace, who is just as adept at playing defensive midfield as he is attacking midfield, has looked a long shot for a while now.
That’s because Portuguese side Porto were said to have had Rios all but signed, sealed and delivered in a deal with Palmeiras.
Now a big development has cleared the path for Potter to get the all-action 24-year-old UOL recently claimed is at the top of a target list compiled by the Hammers boss and his head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.
West Ham were boosted when a deal between Porto and Palmeiras for Rios collapsed last month.
It was suggested Porto would go for Al-Ahli’s Spanish midfielder Gabriel Veiga instead.
Now there has been a significant development in the situation which can only be good news for West Ham.
Because transfer reporter Romano has announced Veiga has now signed for Porto as their alternative to Rios.
In his trademark style, Romano has now given the Veiga to Porto deal the ‘here we go’.
“Gabri Veiga to FC Porto, here we go!” Romano said on X.
“Deal in place for initial transfer fee around €15m (£12m) plus add-ons. Agreement done on both player and club side with Al Ahli as Veiga returns in Europe.
“Medical tests booked, president Villas-Boas closed the deal and it’s now done.”
Path now clear for Hammers to ‘top of the list’ Rios
Now the ball is firmly in West Ham’s court to make the next move.
Lines of communication are already open between the Irons and Palmeiras after the £20m deal to bring Luis Guilherme to east London last summer.
It is claimed that not only are Palmeiras still ready to cash in on Rios, but they are willing to sell him for just £25m.
The Colombia international would transform West Ham’s lethargic and immobile midfield.
Rios possesses all of the attributes that the Hammers are crying out for in central midfield.
West Ham would finally be getting a fitting replacement for Rice with power, stamina and ability on the ball the key features of Rios’ game.
At 6ft 2in, the midfielder is an imposing figure too.
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