West Ham target ‘strong candidate’ for revelation of the season; £12m deal possible – report
West Ham United target Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios, according to TeamTalk.
Everton, Leicester City, and Manchester United are reportedly interested in 24-year-old Gabriel Sara, who impressed for Colombia at Copa America this summer. Brazilian side Palmeiras could sell him for £12 million.
West Ham United continue to bolster Julen Lopetegui’s squad. Crysencio Summerville is reportedly undergoing a medical to join from Leeds United, talks are being held with Borussia Dortmund about Niclas Fullkrug, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also a major target.
Lopetegui has already signed Wes Foderingham, Luis Guilherme, and Max Kilman since being appointed as Hammers manager.
Adding Summerville, Fullkrug, and Wan-Bissaka would mean he’s added a goalkeeper, centre-back, full-back, two wingers, and a striker to his squad. The only area left untouched, based on these names, would be the central midfield.
West Ham has strong options in the middle with James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, and Tomas Soucek, along with academy players George Earthy and Lewis Orford coming through.
However, it wouldn’t hurt to add a midfielder who South American football expert Tim Vickery described as “a strong candidate to be the revelation of the season” who is “long-legged and dynamic, he looks to have an interesting future.”
Sara impressed at Copa America as Colombia reached the final before losing to Argentina. Before that, he wowed Vickery with his performance in a friendly against eventual Euro 2024 winners Spain.
For £12 million, the Hammers could leverage their South American connections with Guilherme and Lucas Paqueta to bring Sara to the London Stadium.
