By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
For anyone banking on West Ham signing Gustavo Sá so they can use the Demba Ba tactic of saving money by just having “Sa” printed on the back of the shirt… think again.
The Portuguese youngster is actually named Gustavo Filipe Alves de Freitas Azevedo e Sá, which would probably cost more in shirt printing than the £110 Elite New Balance shirt itself.
But if you’d like to find out a little more about the attacking midfielder West Ham have been linked with, then look no further.
A Young Captain With Plenty Of Experience
Sá is captain of Portugal’s Under-21 side and, remarkably, at the age of just 21, is also captain of FC Famalicão.
He has already chalked up 100 Primeira Liga appearances in record time and is highly regarded in his homeland.
However, reports suggesting he is a direct replacement for Mateus Fernandes are not entirely accurate.
Sá does not possess the same all-round game as Spurs’ new £85 million man and is not as comfortable operating in deeper midfield positions.
A Different Type Of Midfielder
Standing at 6ft 2in, Sá has a very different physical profile to Fernandes and has made his name primarily as an attacking midfielder.
Last season saw him deployed in a deeper role for FC Famalicão, which would help explain why his goals and assist numbers dropped compared to previous campaigns.
He has represented Portugal’s Under-21s on 15 occasions and is regularly praised for his passing ability.
Why Nuno May Like Him
Not blessed with blistering pace, Sá is competent in the air, but it is his vision and long-range passing which are regarded as his standout qualities.
Those are exactly the attributes likely to appeal to Nuno Espírito Santo, who will value Sá’s ability to switch play, pick out runners and deliver quality from set-pieces.
That final point could prove particularly significant with James Ward-Prowse expected to leave the London Stadium.
That said… somebody had better warn the new lad not to call his new gaffer “Baldy.”
He seems a smart pickup if we get at a reasonable price.
I’m hoping we get Irakunda but I’m Aussie bias lol.
What’s the baldy reference Gonz? Did someone give the gaff a Baldy nickname lol
Have you been in a cave? JWP “allegedly” called Nuno “baldy” when he went on loan at Forest and barely featured again for them under NES. He of course hasn’t played under him at West Ham either.
Adelaide United season ticket holder so have seen plenty of Irankunda. He’s skillful, direct and can shoot well when cutting in, but he’s also a left footed right attacker who isn’t as good as Bowen so what would we do with him?