CLUB CHIEF ‘VERY HAPPY’ AS £15M WEST HAM DEAL COLLAPSES DESPITE FEE BEING AGREED
While Crystal Palace near a genuine coup of a transfer in Daichi Kamada, as Aston Villa close in on Ross Barkley and Mario Hermoso, West Ham United once again feel like a team entering the transfer market on the back foot.
It took until August for The Hammers to complete their first signing of 2023.
And while there is no suggestion that West Ham will be quite so late to the party this time around – there is no Declan Rice-like saga holding the London giants back this time – the sight of two deals being called off in the space of only a few days is unlikely to improve the mood.
HITC reported earlier today that talks over Brazilian wonderkid Luis Guilherme appear to have broken down. David Sullivan, West Ham’s owner, was reluctant to sanction a £30 million bid for the Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United target, despite having already put £25 million on the table.
This comes after Julen Lopetegui’s team pulled the plug on the arrival of Fabricio Bruno too. West Ham reportedly agreed a fee rising to £15 million with Flamengo.
But, in a rather unusual turn of events, personal terms proved to be the issue, Bruno’s demands of a £100,000-a-week contract having The Hammers running for the hills.
Speaking to UOL, Flamengo’s vice president Marcos Braz has now opened up on this somewhat surprising development. Bruno, he says, wanted the move initially, the breakdown in discussions a ‘pleasant surprise’ for the Brazil international’s current employers.
“Flamengo listened to the businesspeople, who are the people who take care of Fabricio’s career,” Braz explains. “They told us that the player was interested in going to England.
“We sat down, as we do with everyone. We agreed with the team and on the spot. (But) there was no agreement between the club and the player.
“This is difficult because, usually when you talk to the club, the player’s situation is already advanced. For us, it was a pleasant surprise. I prefer Fabricio (to stay) here.”
West Ham’s loss, Braz says, is very much Flamengo’s gain.
Snapped up from Red Bull Bragantino in 2022, Bruno has developed into one of the continent’s finest central defenders, forcing his way into the Brazil squad for this summer’s Copa America and impressing during March’s 1-0 win over England at Wembley.
“He’s a player who was called up to the national team. We looked at him at Bragantino, he came in well, he adapted super. Everyone likes him. He’s very important for our squad,” Braz adds.
“Of course, the money would be good but there’s no problem. We are very happy with Fabricio Bruno staying.”
West Ham conceded a staggering 74 goals in the 2023/24 Premier League season. A record only ‘bettered’ by the relegated trio of Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United.
A defender of Bruno’s experience and presence could have gone a long way to fixing The Hammers‘ damaging Achilles heel, especially for a bargain fee of just £15 million. Lopetegui, Tim Steidten and co will now have to look elsewhere, though finding a player of similar value for money may be easier said than done.
