São Paulo president Julio Casares has broken his silence on reported West Ham transfer target Luizao, when speaking to Globo Esporte.
Hammers boss David Moyes is keen to bring the 20-year-old centre-back to the London Stadium this summer, according to Brazilian outlet IG.
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In fact, the report suggested that both West Ham and Fulham want to sign Luizao, and could pick him up on a free transfer in January.
David Moyes has already strengthened his central defensive ranks at the London Stadium this summer with the additions of Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd.
And it seems as though Moyes is eyeing up the possibility of doing exactly that this summer.
São Paulo president speaks out amidst Luizao links to West Ham
Julio Casares has hinted that the interest in the 20-year-old Brazilian could have been sparked by agents.
He told Globo Esporte:
“No proposal. Sometimes people have to understand that there’s a poll. From Fulham, I’m sure there isn’t. The poll is sometimes speculation that comes from an agent, for example. Now, proposal, from the club, directly, I didn’t receive anything, nobody received anything.”
The fact that Casares has mentioned Fulham and emphatically ruled them out whilst not mentioning West Ham is interesting.
To us, that could mean that the Hammers have real interest in Luizao.
We think he’d be a smart addition for the Hammers, with Angelo Ogbonna now 34 and and Craig Dawson being heavily linked with an exit from the London Stadium.
The 20-year-old has only made 12 senior appearances for Sao Paulo (Transfermarkt).
So he’s obviously still very rough around the edges. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have outstanding ability and potential though.
Luizao is an aggressive young defender whose playing style is quintessentially South American, what with his tenacity and aggression.
He’s a very good tackler and is commanding in the air. The thing is though, he’s totally unproven, so if Moyes did bring him to the London Stadium, he would undoubtedly have to wait a while before being exposed to first-team action.
We think Luizao would be an exciting addition for West Ham nonetheless.
According to the São Paulo president though, it seems as though the young Brazilian won’t be going anywhere just yet.
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