Hammers target set for exit

West Ham target Luizao is poised to leave Sao Paulo in the January transfer window.

The Hammers have been heavily linked with a potential swoop to sign the Brazilian defender, and are said to have made an offer for him in the summer.

That deal did not pan out but his contract is set to expire in January, and he now looks poised to move on.

Luizao is only 20 but he has made his first-team breakthrough with the Brazilian club, making 16 appearances in total.

But the club’s boss, Rogerio Ceni, has now confirmed that he is set to depart, and is likely to make a move to Europe.

He told Bolavip, as per Sport Witness: “I face this (the exits) as a normal thing. I regret the way they leave.

“It was for the club to make good money with these players. What we regret most is a young player like Luizão, with a contract ending in January, leaving free.

“Igor and Luizão finish the contracts. As far as I know there was no renewal, so it may happen that we lose these players.”

It remains to be seen if the Hammers now follow up their interest with a formal bid but previous reports have claimed Luizao won’t leave for free, and instead wants his club to receive some sort of payment.

 

About Dave Langton

A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.