Brazilian £20 Million Investment is a Slow Burner

It is a dangerous thing, disagreeing publically with the senior person at the same establishment..  But I’m going to do it anyway. Gonzo’s article of yesterday regarding his hope that  Luis Guilherme will soon be getting into the squad, to show Lopetegui’s actions match his words is a thought-provoking read but – from my own point of view, I see the teenager in a very different capacity to ‘first team jet-heeled option- in waiting’.

As the first signing of the summer window, Guilherme was always going to create headlines especially as, for some time, he was the only signing as we all looked around anxiously for the next one through the door..

Fortunately we need not have worried. However the youngster with the fast reputation is, in my opinion, unlikely to get much first team football in the immediate future but has been bought to understudy, learn from and ultimately grow into, Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen or Mohammed Kudus’ boots in seasons to come.  The simple explanation behind my rationale is the subsequent purchase of Crysencio Summerville from Leeds.

If Guilherme was going to stand any chance of game time, he’d need to usurp one of  either Kudus, Bowen or Summerville along the front line. Realistically at 18 years old he’ll have to be a magician to do that barring some awful injury. (Let’s not tempt fate).

He is a great, fast, skilful prospect and has played across the front line already in his time at Palmeiras, but I see him very much in the ‘future talent’ role that Steidten specialises in finding. A whole year to learn from Bowen, Paqueta and Kudus will develop the teenager immensely, We all know what may lie ahead next summer with Kudus and or Paqueta suddenly disappearing from West Ham forever as financial reality dawns: If you need more evidence of this read my article about it here.

With a surplus of attacking talent just now, Guilherme at 18 could be one of our most exciting prospects in a year or so as J’Lo’s coaching, combined with wonderful mentoring can turn him into a first team star or alternatively another asset for sale if finances dictate: Either way I think he’s one for the future rather than for the first team this season. I’d be surprised to see him appear at all other than the odd few minutes from the bench to rest some tired legs. Time will tell whether Gonzo or I have read it right.