A Brazilian journalist has confirmed a £12.8m West Ham signing but there’s a bizarre twist before he arrives at the club.
West Ham may already be seeing the difference in Tim Steidten being in full control of transfers.
For all the good David Moyes did at West Ham he maintained the moniker ‘dithering Dave’ – given to him in his Everton days which stuck at Man United too – when it came to his hesitancy over transfers.
Technical director Steidten now has complete control of recruitment and the signs are good.
Certainly in terms of getting deals done early at least.
West Ham fans are used to seeing the club scrambling around late in the window to make signings.
New boss Julen Lopetegui is inheriting a tiny squad of 16 or 17 players depending on whether Aaron Cresswell signs a new one-year deal.
So at least eight of nine signings will be required in a major Hammers rebuild.
No time to waste for Steidten
Steidten is wasting no time at all it seems.
Last night we reported on Fabrizio Romano’s claim that West Ham have done a deal to sign centre-back Fabricio Bruno from Flamengo.
The 28-year-old is said to have already agreed terms with Steidten in ‘advanced talks’ to finalise the move.
Now a Brazilian journalist has confirmed the £12.8m West Ham signing but there’s a bizarre twist.
Reporter Vene Casagrande says the Hammers have now completed the deal with Flamengo.
The respected Brazilian journalist told his near 1 million followers that Flamengo have now sold Brazil international Bruno to West Ham for 84 million Brazilian Real – which equates to £12.8m.
But there is a strange twist to the deal which appears to be a huge risk for all concerned.
Journalist confirms signing but there’s a bizarre twist
Because Casagrande confirmed Bruno would not be pulled out of Flamengo’s Copa do Brasil clash with Amazonas and will also play in the Copa Libertadores against Millonarios next Wednesday before signing a five-year deal with the Hammers.
“Flamengo agrees to sell Fabricio Bruno for around 84 million reals (£12.8m),” Casagrande said.
“Defender plays today, in the Copa do Brasil, and next week, in the Libertadores, and then leaves to sign a five-year contract with West Ham.”
This seems to be massive risk from West Ham. And Flamengo for that matter.
What if Bruno was to get injured? It would prove a very costly gamble for him, his club and the Hammers.
It’s not the only risk West Ham will be taking, though, it seems.
To hand a player who is untested in Europe a five-year contract at 28 years of age seems questionable. Top Brazilian talents usually come to Europe in their late teens or early 20s. So the jury will be out.
A risk but in Steidten we trust?
But it is a case of in Steidten we trust. Perhaps the only way West Ham could agree the deal was by conceding Bruno could play in these two matches.
He helped his side win 1-0 overnight and appears to have come through unscathed.
Let’s hope it’s the same when he plays next Wednesday before heading to east London.
It certainly makes a refreshing change to see West Ham operating with speed and efficiency in the transfer market.
Bruno stands 6ft 4in tall and is very much a physical, brave defender.
He appears to lack pace, though, which will be a concern coming into the quickest and toughest league in the world.
But West Ham will be hoping he more than makes up for it with his strengths – which are positioning, concentration, tackling and passing.
Bruno has been a star performer not just for Flamengo but in the Brazilian league in the last year. So much so he has earned his first senior call-ups for Brazil – one of which came against England this year.
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