There’s a crazy twist to the shock new West Ham bid for brilliant star Wesley Gassova according to claims out of Brazil. What Tim Steidten wants, Tim Steidten usually gets and West Ham are exhibit A in that respect.
Not only in the shape of the magnificent deals the coveted technical director has pulled off since arriving at West Ham. But the fact he has impressed so much he won the power struggle with David Moyes and now has complete control of the club’s recruitment.
It had looked like being a difficult summer for Steidten initially, though. After ending last season on a sour note when Moyes banned the German from being around the first team, Steidten struggled to get a few deals over the line in Brazil.
A bid for Corinthians star Wesley Gassova hit a wall before a move for Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno collapsed at the last knockings. When Steidten switched attentions to Luis Guilherme that hit some turbulence too.
Tim Steidten usually gets what he wants
In the end, though, Steidten got his man by jetting back over to Brazil and bringing Guilherme to east London, where he is expected to be unveiled as the first signing of the Julen Lopetegui era in a £25m deal with Palmeiras. While the ink still dries on Guilherme’s contract, Steidten looks set to show Corinthians he takes some stopping.
News emerged overnight that the Hammers are back in for Guilherme’s Brazil Under 20 teammate Gassova – or Wesley as he will become better known. Hammers News first reported on a journalist’s claim about West Ham’s interest in Wesley back in April.
The teenager is under contract with Corinthians until December 2027 and is an attacking talent capable of playing on either wing. But a deal to sign him hit the buffers when Corinthians kept raising the asking price from the initial £19m.
Now there’s been a major development after it emerged the deal was back on yesterday. In fact it’s a crazy twist to the shock new West Ham bid for brilliant star Wesley.
According to Goal Brazil, West Ham and Corinthians could now agree a deal in the region of £20m. That’s nearly a quarter of West Ham’s reported £100m summer budget.
And together with the Guilherme signing would mean the Hammers have spent nearly half their kitty already with another five or six new signings needed, including two centre-backs and a striker.
Yet according to the report, West Ham are willing to sign Wesley and leave him at Corinthians for the rest of the Brazilian season – which ends in December.
“West Ham, from England, returned to the hunt for striker Wesley,” Goal states. Hammers to sign Wesley but not until January?
“The British intend to increase their bid to acquire the 19-year-old athlete. Corinthians are signalling positively to reach an agreement with the Hammers, but they only want to release him from January 2025, as GOAL learned…
“It is most likely that West Ham will exceed €20 million (R$115 million) (£17m) including a fixed amount and bonuses, in negotiations to acquire the 19-year-old striker. There is an expectation that the parties will reach an agreement during the current transfer window.”
Surely West Ham wouldn’t commit such a large portion of their transfer budget during a major rebuild to a player they won’t have until January?
The big question here is would the Wesley money come out of this summer’s budget? Or will the Hammers simply secure the deal and kick the can down the road on the payment?
For their money, if and when they get him, West Ham will be getting a player dubbed the ‘ultimate showman’. And you can check him out in the obligatory YouTube video below.
