A leading Portuguese outlet has insisted Famalicão and Portugal Under 21 captain Gustavo Sa is joining West Ham despite denials about the deal being close.
West Ham returned to pre-season this week but the only new face was that of assistant coach Rui Pedro Silva.
The Hammers are yet to make any signings and some fans are getting tetchy with the competitive season just four weeks away.
West Ham know they have to replace Mateus Fernandes and – in all likelihood – Crysencio Summerville too.
Sa will join West Ham despite denials claims top Portuguese outlet
Intense speculation over the last week has claimed the Hammers are eyeing Fernandes’ compatriot and Portugal Under 21 captain Gustavo Sa to fill the void.
The links to all-action midfield playmaker Sa make sense given he came through under new Hammers assistant boss Silva and counts Jorge Mendes as his agent.
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Superagent Mendes also represents Nuno Espirito Santo and the pair always work closely together on transfers, including at West Ham.
It was reported last weekend that West Ham were close to signing Sa for £17.5m on a five-year deal.
There were even reports in Portugal that Sa was set to fly in for a medical.
However, Hammers insider ExWHUemployee claimed a move is ‘nowhere near’ as advanced as the reports in Portugal have claimed.
Ex even stated that it may be a case West Ham are being used to scare Porto into action over their own move for Sa.
Sa denials correct but Record doubles down on West Ham claim
So it has proved thus far because a deal has not transpired as yet, almost one week on.
But now a top Portuguese outlet has insisted Sa is joining West Ham despite the denials.
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Record is Portugal’s leading sports media outlet and its latest claims about the Hammers are very intriguing indeed.
Record reports that West Ham while Sa remains in training with Famalicao ‘for now’, there is ‘nothing to suggest the transfer is in danger’.
The report then doubles down, stating that ‘if anything, West Ham are the clear favourites to sign the midfielder’ and the proposed £17.5m fee remains unchanged.
The report says Sa has been preparing for the new season as normal but claims Famalicao’s investment in strengthening their midfield ‘serves as a way to prepare for the potential departure of Sa’.
West Ham are often a club that finds themselves used by agents and other clubs to generate interest in players.
So Hammers fans would be minded not to get their hopes up too much until something more concrete emerges from West Ham’s end.
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