Reports last week emerged that West Ham United – looking ahead to the summer after a miserable Premier League campaign – could potentially kill two birds with one proverbial stone.
The Hammers need a centre-forward. Don’t they always?
Is there a world in which West Ham United can land a reliable number nine while also moving on from a player who has not made a single Premier League appearance during two largely forgettable years at the London Stadium?
Yuri Alberto remains a West Ham target after winning the Brazilian Golden Boot in 2024. The Corinthians star’s agent confirmed the Hammers’ interest earlier this year. It is believed that Alberto may be available for a potential bargain fee of £15 million, per TBR Football.
Ironically, that is around the fee West Ham offered in the summer of 2023. Corinthians turned down their bid at the time. But, with only two years remaining on Yuri Alberto’s contract, the Timao may now be more receptive to such approaches.
Claret and Hugh, meanwhile, suggest that West Ham could offer forgotten man Luizao in exchange.
Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
West Ham United linked with Yuri Alberto and Luizao swap deal
A highly-rated defender who moved to England from Sao Paulo in January 2023, Luizao is currently playing in Poland on loan at Pogon Szczecin.
He has already made more Ekstraklasa appearances in the space of a few weeks than he made Premier League outings during two years as a West Ham player.
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And Brazilian reporter Jorge Nicola, while reluctant to confirm or deny suggestions of a Luizao – Yuri Alberto swap deal, does feel that this is a story with legs.
“The idea of signing a defender is a priority at Corinthians,” Nicola explains. “For that reason, there could be some type of negotiation.
“It is important to remember that Corinthians have only 50 per cent of Yuri Alberto’s economic rights. There is the need for a large proposal [in order to sign Yuri Alberto].”
It is likely that West Ham would still need to stump up the thick end of £15 million, even if Luizao is used as a makeweight in any arrangement.
Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images
Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images
Brazil international’s agent confirmed West Ham interest
While a striker more accustomed to purple patches of great form rather than week-in, week-out productivity, Yuri Alberto has outscored fellow Brazilians Raphinha and Vinicius Jr since the start of 2024.
No Brazilian has more goals than him over the last 17 months, hitting the target 43 times in that period.
“Our job is to take the offer to the club,” explained Andre Cury, Alberto’s representative. “We’ve had offers from Wolverhampton [Wanderers], West Ham, Real Betis. We’ve had offers from Italy and it never happened.
“But the player is young. Every player who’s in South America thinks about playing in Europe and it’s no different with Yuri. If there’s a good opportunity that’s good for him and the club, we’ll talk about it.”
In addition, West Ham have looked at Strasbourg sensation Emanuel Emegha, alongside Liam Delap of Ipswich Town and the soon-to-be free-agent Jonathan David.
Ukraine marksman Vladyslav Vanat is on West Ham’s radar too, though latest reports suggest that Leeds or Fulham may be more likely destinations at this stage.
Franck Haise, the coach of Ligue 1 outfit Nice, also confirmed over the weekend that the West Ham-linked Evann Guessand may be sold after a coming-of-age campaign across the Channel.