Exclusive: West Ham’s £25m Offer Rejected as Sullivan Cancels Deal for ‘Very Special Player’
West Ham United have decided to end their pursuit of Palmeiras’ wonderkid Luis Guilherme after owner David Sullivan refused to authorize a £30 million deal for the young player.
According to HITC, this decision came shortly after financial issues caused the breakdown of negotiations for Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno. Discussions for Guilherme, one of South America’s brightest young talents, have similarly ended due to financial disagreements.
West Ham reportedly agreed to a deal worth up to £15 million for Bruno, a prominent Brazil international. However, his demand for £100,000 per week at the London Stadium was a sticking point, one that The Hammers were not willing to meet.
HITC can now confirm that Luis Guilherme, like Bruno, is increasingly unlikely to join West Ham. With Palmeiras holding out for £30 million and Sullivan unwilling to go beyond £25 million, the deal was halted. Additionally, Sullivan did not approve a contract that would have made Guilherme one of the highest-paid teenagers in the Premier League.
It is clear that West Ham is increasingly looking to the South American market. They attempted to sign Internacional striker Yuri Alberto for £14 million last summer, with director Tim Steidten traveling to South America for talks. They also made an offer for £25 million-rated Corinthians winger Wesley Gassova.
However, despite these efforts, the 2023 Europa Conference League winners are unwilling to spend large sums recklessly. This cautious approach by Sullivan might frustrate a fanbase already disheartened by last season’s performance before David Moyes’ departure and Julen Lopetegui’s arrival.
HITC previously reported that Liverpool were aggressively pursuing the £30 million-rated Guilherme, with West Ham, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Brighton and Hove Albion also showing interest.
At only 18, Guilherme has been recorded at a top speed of 36 km/h, making him allegedly faster than Mo Salah and drawing comparisons to Kylian Mbappe, according to Globo Esporte. “Luis doesn’t get carried away. He knows the potential he has,” said Joao Paulo Sampaio, Palmeiras’ youth director, to The Guardian when Guilherme was listed among ‘the 60 best young talents in world football’. “He’s a very special player.”
Palmeiras are already anticipating the loss of two other young stars this summer. Endrick, who recently scored the winner for Brazil at Wembley, is set to join Real Madrid, while Chelsea have agreed to a deal worth up to £60 million for Estevao Willian.
“People in football already knew about him,” Endrick’s agent, Facundo Pena, told The Telegraph. “All of the top clubs came in. Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea, and, of course, Real Madrid. I think Real decided that they were never going to miss another talent like Vini (Vinicius Junior) or Endrick after Neymar moved to Barcelona. Maybe there is a lesson for Chelsea because they were in front at the start.”
West Ham’s reluctance to meet high financial demands reflects a broader strategy of cautious investment, despite their growing interest in the South American talent pool. This strategy, however, might continue to test the patience of their supporters.
