By Gonzo
West Ham have been told to increase their bid for Athletico Paranaense starlet Vitor Roque to a whopping £40m according to reports.
It is understood that the Hammers had made a bid in the region of £8m for the young Brazilian attacker, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Real Madrid.
West Ham’s head of recruitment Rob Newman has been busy setting up a scouting network in South America, and Roque has been identified as an ‘outstanding talent. The Brazilian whizkid came through the youth ranks of Cruzeiro before sealing a move to Athletico Paranaense last summer.
The Timoteo born player has already made 36 senior appearances for Athletico, scoring seven goals and grabbing three assists across multiple competitions.
His current deal at the Brazilian club is set to expire in the summer of 2027. Therefore, the Hammers have no choice but to meet Paranaense’s asking price if they are serious about buying Roque. Whilst the untested player might have been deemed worth a ‘punt’ at less than £10m, it’s hard to see the Irons board sanctioning a £40m transfer for a 17 year old no matter how promising.