West Ham lead race for South American midfield sensation, £30m+ could seal transfer.

West Ham are heavily interested in signing Brazilian teenage sensation, Luis Guilherme, according to PL Brasil. 

The Hammers lost Declan Rice in the summer transfer window to Arsenal and David Moyes wants to add more quality players in central midfield areas.

Guilherme is a highly-rated young midfielder and it appears that West Ham are leading the race for his signature.

The youngster made his first-team debut in April and has gone on to make 23 appearances for Palmeiras already. The Hammers could face strong competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

The 17-year-old has a deal at the Brazilian club until 2025 but he is unlikely to stay. His agent has already met with the Hammers last week, and a concrete proposal is needed to lure him away.

Paqueta factor?

It used to be a big problem for Premier League clubs to sign exciting talents from South America only a few years back. Thanks to a brilliant scouting system and a change in work permit regulation has now opened the door for Premier League clubs to make direct contact with Brazilian clubs.

Having said that, the Hammers cannot sign him until he turns 18, but they can always strike a deal now and allow him to continue in Brazil.

The youngster could be tempted to move to West Ham where he will meet fellow compatriots Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri. Paqueta is a key player for the Brazil national team and represented his country during the World Cup in Qatar, so it could add an extra incentive for him to play alongside him at club levels.

However, he won’t come cheap though. The Brazilian club are demanding a fee of over £30m for the player, and it remains to be seen if the Hammers can get him at a reasonable price.