Julen Lopetegui may elect to hand Luis Guilherme his senior West Ham United debut against Brentford this weekend.
With the Spaniard having been tentative over using his clutch of exciting summer signings in the early stages of the Premier League campaign, Guilherme has not yet featured but impressed for the Hammers’ Under-21s against Benfica on Tuesday (24 September).
The 18-year-old Brazilian netted his first goal in English football against the Portuguese outfit in Dagenham and could even be used as a wildcard to replace Crysencio Summerville, who Lopetegui has been hesitant over.
It’s certainly a bold shout and would be an even bolder move – Guilherme has not yet featured for the first team and has only been in the squad twice, but it is clear Lopetegui is a while away from knowing his best team and Summerville has been among those used sparingly.
Guilherme was the Irons’ first summer signing back in June, arriving for a £25million fee – just like Summerville – from Palmeiras.
West Ham United should let Luis Guilherme loose
While the consensus is that you are paying £25m for potential rather than an immediate capability to succeed in the Premier League, it will be interesting to see Lopetegui and the club’s strategy with Guilherme.
The Hammers have started shakily and were pummelled by Chelsea at the London Stadium last weekend, Summerville playing just 54 minutes as it emerges the Dutchman was the only summer recruit not picked out by Tim Steidten [Sean Whetstone, 24 September].
Guilherme is likely not yet ready to start – a substitute appearance would be more sensible – but the Hammers are among every club at some stage to have handed opportunities to promising prospects of the same age or younger.
It must be remembered that the Brazilian winger had already accumulated 45 senior matches for Palmeiras prior to his switch to England – while raw, he is not wet behind the ears.
Lopetegui could elect to take Guilherme to Anfield as part of the travelling party on Wednesday (25 September) for the Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool, but a Premier League bow at Brentford should not be completely off the cards.
