New report claims a boardroom beef gives West Ham the edge over Liverpool in the race for Fulham forward Fabio Carvalho.
Winger-cum-wide forward Carvalho has been a revelation for Fulham in the Championship this season and has reportedly attracted the attention of both West Ham and Liverpool.
The 19-year-old has scored five goals and laid on an assist in 15 appearances and also has a brilliant average match rating of over seven (WhoScored).
Carvalho is out of contract at Fulham at the end of the season, meaning either West Ham or Liverpool could stand to get the exciting youngster for a paltry tribunal fee if they wait until the summer.
But both clubs have also been linked with bids of around £5m this month to secure his services before then.
That’s according to a new report from The Sun which claims a boardroom beef between Fulham and Liverpool over Harvey Elliott gives West Ham the edge in the race for Carvalho.
Report: Boardroom beef gives West Ham the edge over Liverpool for forward Fabio Carvalho
“The Reds are weighing up a £5million January swoop for the 19-year-old winger amid reports that Hammers are also prepared to pounce…” The Sun claims.
“But the Reds will have to tread carefully as there is still bad feeling at the London club about Harvey Elliott’s switch from Craven Cottage to Anfield in 2019.
“If Fulham suspect any tapping-up or other dark arts of the transfer market in relation to Carvalho, they could make life difficult for Liverpool…
“Fulham and Liverpool were unable to reach an agreement over Elliott, 18, with the Londoners seeking up to £7m. In February 2021 the Professional Football Compensation Committee ruled that Liverpool should pay an initial £1.5m for Elliott, and set out performance-related conditions for up to £2.8m of future payments and a 20 per cent sell-on clause.”
The bad blood between Liverpool and Fulham will be music to the ears of West Ham boss David Moyes if the Hammers really are interested.
Carvalho fits Moyes’s West Ham recruitment policy to a tee. The attacker is young, quick, athletic, talented and would undoubtedly be hungry to prove himself at the top level.
West Ham interest would also tally with the appointment of Rob Newman as head of recruitment.
Newman, the former Man City international talent transfer chief, has been charged by Moyes with identifying young players to fit with the Scot’s key criteria.