Brazilian football journalist Jorge Nicola has claimed that Flamengo could make a move to sign West Ham centre-back Fabian Balbuena if the Paraguayan still hasn’t signed a new deal by April or May.
In other news…Report: West Ham want £4.4m ace from London rivals in January
The defender joined West Ham in the summer of 2018 from Corinthians for around £3.5 million (Evening Standard).
The 29-year-old’s current contract with the Hammers is set to expire in the summer.
Most people thought that Balbuena would be on his way out of the London Stadium in the summer.
The 6ft 2in centre-back has completely turned things around, however. He is now a vital player for David Moyes and West Ham would be silly to not offer the Paraguay international a new deal.
If the east London outfit don’t get Balbuena tied down to a new contract with the next five months or so, however, Brazilian football journalist Jorge Nicola claims that Flamengo could make a move to sign him.
The respected journo suggests that the former Corinthians ace earns around £35k-a-week at West Ham. And that would be too rich for the six-time Brazilian league winners.
If West Ham don’t offer Balbuena a new deal, however, and he becomes available on a free transfer, Flamengo could then sign him according to Jorge Nicola.
It would be genuinely baffling if the Hammers don’t tie the Paraguayan up to a new two or three-year deal, however. Balbuena has proved that he is back to his best.
And he is the kind of player West Ham should be looking to keep. Who would have though we would be saying that four months ago!
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