Fans simply won’t believe who got the Luis Guilherme over the line for West Ham after conflicting overnight reports.
West Ham’s Luis Guilherme transfer saga took another few twists last night.
Confusion and uncertainty still reigns as a result.
But it’s now looking more likely West Ham will sign the jet-heeled Brazilian teenager.
It’s a typical Hammers transfer tale that’s had more twists and turns than a politician’s manifesto pledges.
There were a few more yesterday and last night as developments emerged from two top sources on West Ham’s move for Palmeiras’ reportedly coveted 18-year-old.
West Ham technical director Tim Steidten has been in talks to sign Guilherme – an attacking midfield star likened to Mohammed Kudus and Ronaldinho – for the last 10 days.
Guilherme: a typical West Ham saga
Steidten switched his attentions to Guilherme when he failed to seal deals for Corinthians winger Wesley Gassova and Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno.
Hammers fans – and plenty of journalists too – scrambled for YouTube to watch clips of Guilherme when it emerged West Ham were in talks for the raw youngster.
Cynics among the West Ham fanbase have been refusing to get too excited given previous transfer failures.
Many are waiting until they see a picture of Steidten on a plane with the player and his agent, which became his trademark last summer.
There were updates yesterday which have caused some confusion.
But fans simply won’t believe who has got Guilherme over the line for West Ham.
Conflicting reports on Hammers move for Brazilian
Firstly West Ham insider Sean Whetstone, who counts majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his contacts, delivered a frustrating update.
Whetstone claimed the Hammers would have to wait until next Friday to have any idea whether Guilherme will be coming to the London Stadium.
He also insisted another club is still trying to hijack the move.
“All eyes will be on Palmeiras next Friday to see if West Ham target Luis Guilherme plays against Vaso Da Gama,” Whetstone said yesterday.
“The Brazilian Serie A league only started on 13 April and is scheduled to run until 8 December. Guilherme came on as a second half substitute last weekend for Palmeiras playing 45 minutes in a 2-1 win over Criciuma.
“Guilherme is thought to be training with the Brazil Under 20’s this week but will need return to his club unless a medical is scheduled before then.
“West Ham are remaining tight lipped over progress on the signing since another club came in to attempt to hijack their deal for the 18-year-old winger.”
Fans won’t believe who got Guilherme over the line
But then transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano repeated claims coming out of Brazil that the deal is now all but done and that Guilherme will have his West Ham medical next week.
The Italian even stated: ‘Here we go soon’. But it holds little water with some after he gave the Bruno deal his trademark ‘Here we go’ seal only for it to collapse.
“West Ham verbally agree deal to sign Brazilian talent Luis Guilherme!” Romano said.
“Agreement done with Palmeiras pending medicals to take place in England next week.
“€23m (£20m) fixed fee, €7m (£5m) add-ons, 20% sell-on clause to Palmeiras. Final steps then… here we go, soon.”
What changed in the hours between Whetstone’s well-informed update and Romano’s then you might ask?
Well it seems one name very familiar to West Ham fans finally helped get the deal over the line.
Kia sealed the deal for West Ham
That being a certain Kia Joorabchian.
Joorabchian was the man who brought Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to West Ham in one of the transfer announcements that shocked world football.
The double deal was part of Joorabchian’s ultimately doomed attempts at the time to take over West Ham.
Tevez became a legendary West Ham figure in his short time at the club but the nature of the deal landed the Hammers with a record £5.5m fine from the Premier League plus an £18m compensation pay-out to Sheffield United.
Some would say it was worth every penny to have Tevez for that period, especially as he helped keep the Hammers in the top flight.
According to Brazilian outlet Revista Colorada last night, Joorabchian is the man who helped seal the Guilherme deal.
And he remains in talks to bring Brazilian defender Vitao to West Ham too.
“Initially, Inter wants to receive a proposal of 12 million euros (£10m) for the defender, according to who represents his career, since 80% of his transfer is fixed in the five-year pre-contract (from Shakhtar Donetsk) – leaving him with 10 million euros (£8m). The other 20% are from businesspeople in Vitão,” the report states.
“Another first-hand information is that businessman Kia Joorabchian was also responsible for arranging the sale of Luis Guilherme, from Palmeiras, to West Ham,” the report claims.
“The country’s press had already reported that he is also responsible for arranging the goalkeeper’s departure Carlos Miguel, ex-Inter, who was at Corinthians, for English football.”
READ ALSO
Declan Rice posts six-word message to West Ham on special day
Owner: I’m powerless to stop West Ham signing my star player
Lopetegui wants to sell star some fans love after just one year
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
