Slowly but surely, any remnants of the Tim Steidten era are being scrubbed away at West Ham United as Luis Guilherme closes in on a move to Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.
Between them, Niclas Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme set the Hammers back over £50 million during the summer of 2024.
In the last year and a half, the expensively-acquired attacking duo have combined for a measly 13 Premier League starts and only three goals.
Fullkrug arrived in Italy before Christmas ahead of his move to AC Milan. Hammers News can confirm that Luis Guilherme is expected to join Sporting Lisbon, meanwhile.
What do you think about Luis Guilherme LEAVING West Ham? ✈️ 🇧🇷
Are they giving up on him too soon?
Guilherme was left out of the matchday squad when West Ham United lost 1-0 at home to Fulham last time out. The teenager is also unlikely to be involved against Brighton and Hove Albion tonight.
As far as Palmeiras’ youth academy director Joao Paulo Sampaio is concerned, though, 19-year-old Luis Guilherme still has more than enough time on his side as he looks to rediscover the potential which sparked comparisons with Brazil great Neymar back home.
Joao Paulo Sampiao backs Luis Guilherme to shine away from West Ham United
Steidten, West Ham’s much-maligned former technical director, claims to have been reminded of a young Florian Wirtz when watching Guilherme in action for Palmeiras.
So, why has the winger’s time in English football been so forgettable?
South American expert Tim Vickery feels West Ham simply signed Luis Guilherme too early in his career. During spells at Palmeiras and with the Hammers, the Brazil Under-20 international has started only seven league matches since the beginning of 2023.
Yet, Sampaio remains confident that Guilherme can still reach the same heights as another Palmeiras graduate in Chelsea wonderkid Estevao. And, to a lesser extent given his remarkable lack of opportunities under Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid starlet Endrick.
“Sporting is a great club that works very well with young players,” Sampaio tells Record. “If Luis Guilherme goes to Sporting, he will be in good hands. But he is a player who has many clubs interested in him because his potential is very high.
“He is a player who, in terms of potential, is at the same level as Endrick and Estevao. They are three players from the same generation who are out of the ordinary.
“Luis Guilherme is a player who will surely play for the Brazilian National Team and for a great club in Europe.”
“He is a very fast player. To give you an idea, at 16 or 17 years old, he was already reaching 37 kilometers per hour [nearly 23 mph]. He is a player with very high physical capacity, [and] a very high technical level.
“He is a [number] ‘ten’ who can play as a winger or as an attacking midfielder. He has a very strong shot and is very good in one-on-one situations.”
West Ham should have BEATEN Brighton last time! 😮💨
What must Nuno do to get a win tonight?
Guilherme could be an ideal fit for Rui Borges’ Sporting Lisbon
Ahead of a clash with his parent club tonight, Brighton loanee Igor Julio could leave West Ham as well in the coming days.
While Fullkrug and Guilherme found their game time limited this season for varying reasons – injuries wrecked the former’s hopes of a good follow-up campaign and the latter never really adapted to the physicality of the English game – Igor could see his temporary deal terminated following the emergence of Ezra Mayers.
In conversation with CNN Portugal last week, Primeira Liga reporter Diogo Luis claimed that the ‘magic’ Luis Guilherme is a good fit for Rui Borges’ tactical approach at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Luis also believes Guilherme could help fill a void created by Geovany Quenda’s impending £40 million move to Chelsea next summer.
Though Borges, the man tasked with emulating Ruben Amorim’s success in the Portuguese capital, did not give anything away when asked about West Ham’s seldom-seen number 17 a few days ago.
“Luis Guilherme? I can’t define anything, he’s not my player,” Borges said at a press conference. “I know so many [players]. I know some, but I’m not going to talk about them.
“He’s not my player and it doesn’t make any sense to be here evaluating him.”
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