Earlier today, Brazilian central defender Alexsandro was described as “a monster” by a leading football agent talking to Claret & Hugh.
The Lille centre-back is said to be Nuno Espírito Santo’s top transfer target this January, with the West Ham manager eager to get a deal over the line quickly.
Standing at 6ft 3in, Alexsandro is right-footed but plays predominantly as a left-sided centre-back, which could spell trouble for Max Kilman, who has struggled in that role. Comfortable on both feet and blessed with the kind of recovery pace currently missing from West Ham’s defence, he ticks several of Nuno’s boxes.
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Lille defender Alexsandro
Alexsandro doesn’t mind a battle
Aggression, Anticipation… and a Love for Defending
What’s likely caught Nuno’s eye most is the Brazilian’s aggression and anticipation. To put it bluntly, Alexsandro enjoys defending—another quality sorely lacking in the current Hammers backline.
Despite having a bit of a fiery temperament, the 26-year-old has only received one red card during his time at Lille. That said, he did collect 10 yellow cards during last season’s Ligue 1 campaign.
A reported £26 million fee may feel like something of a gamble, but with three competitive caps for Brazil and over 25 Champions League appearances, Alexsandro certainly brings pedigree and experience at the highest level.
If Nuno can land his man, it could be the first step toward rebuilding a defence in desperate need of leadership and bite.