£12.5m bid submitted for West Ham star, exit expected – Fabrizio Romano.

Fabrizio Romano reported via his personal X account on Tuesday night (28 January) that 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Luis Guilherme is expected to leave West Ham before the winter transfer window closes on 3 February.

Guilherme was signed by Tim Steidten for £25 million in the summer, but he could now depart the London Stadium for nearly half that amount.

Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk has shown interest, though Romano notes other clubs are also in the race.

However, it remains unclear whether West Ham has accepted any bid.

Guilherme’s exit comes as little surprise. Steidten spent significant time in Brazil securing deals last summer, and Guilherme was widely regarded as a top young talent.

Yet, his time in England has been underwhelming.

The Brazil Under-20 international has made just six appearances across all competitions, totaling only 50 minutes of playtime.

West Ham now faces a significant financial loss, potentially around £12.5 million, on a player who barely featured.

Given Steidten’s high-profile disputes with both David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui, this transfer blunder only adds to his troubled tenure.

His handling of Lopetegui’s situation, in particular, was seen as a misstep, raising questions about his suitability for the role.

Has David Sullivan made a worse appointment in his time at West Ham?

Many would argue that Steidten’s tenure has been disastrous, and Guilherme’s failed transfer is just another mark against him.