West Ham are prepping the in-house media for the unveiling of Luis Guilherme’s signing, according to Sean Whetstone.
The Six Foot Two editor reported via his West Ham Football account on Twitter (10 June) that with the Brazilian arriving in London earlier the same day the interview and photos were being readied as the medical and contract signing is tied up.
Guilherme is set to sign from Palmeiras in a move worth €25million up front [£21.1m] with a further €5m [£4.3m] in add-ons, according to BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella (3 June).
Whetstone wrote: “Received confirmation that Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme arrived in London earlier today, West Ham media team prepping for unveiling video, photos and interview while final paperwork and medical is completed. He will visit Rush Green and London Stadium as part of his tour.”
Tim Steidten work on brink of success for West Ham transfer
All the signs are now positive after the move appeared to be in danger more than once along the way, but Tim Steidten pushed through with negotiations in person in Brazil.
In a move that has echoes of the German landing Mohammed Kudus a year ago he has now got Guilherme to England and should presumably now be confident of getting it signed.
Until the medical is actually passed that is not guaranteed but for an 18-year-old there should be less chance of any unforeseen wear emerging.
Given the trials of just getting to this point it is easy to overlook the fact that for all Guilherme’s potential and the high expectations around him he is still a teenager who will need to adapt to a new league and a new country.
If his move is announced on the first day of the transfer window (14 June) as suggested by Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth (8 June) then he will have been secured ahead of Julen Lopetegui’s official start date of 1 July.
So that should, in theory, give the Spaniard plenty of time to get his ideas across in the hope that Guilherme can hit the ground running next season.
