West Ham transfer target Yuri Alberto says he is 50/50 on whether he will leave Corinthians during the January transfer window.
It has been reported in the Brazilian media that the 23-year-old is keen to play in England and, while the striker has confirmed his desire to try his hand in the Premier League, he says there is a part of him that wants to remain where he is:
“I really want to [stay at Corinthians]. But I also have a dream of playing in Europe, in the Premier League… I’m very happy here. Even more so because I’ve found my best form. I was even joking with the guys at the training centre before the game against Bahia. I said; ‘Man, this is the last training camp here at home, at the hotel’.”
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“It’s very rare for this to happen, and it’s the first time that I don’t want the year to end! I don’t want it to end because, at the moment, I’m living, I’m very happy. On the field, things are happening with enormous naturalness. I [feel] light, doing my things with great ease. I’m enjoying each day as if it were my last.”
At least 4 Premier League teams want Alberto
TBRFootball claim that the likes of Newcastle, Everton and Nottingham Forest have joined West Ham in pursuing the Brazilian’s signature.
Alberto has had an excellent season in front of goal for Corinthians, having found the back of the net 31 times in 57 appearances, so it is not a surprise that clubs are taking a keen interest.
West Ham need to replace Antonio
There is some doubt about whether Michail Antonio will return to football after a serious car accident at the weekend. The 34-year-old underwent surgery on a broken leg and it could take him a full twelve months to recover.
It means the Irons will need to buy a replacement in January, with Nicolas Fullkrug and Danny Ings the club’s only other options up front. Alberto is definitely a viable candidate. It is believed that Corinthians may consider letting him go for around €20m (£16.6m).
Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here