Player set to join West Ham in winter market – Move is ‘practically certain’

At the weekend, reports from Brazil claimed São Paulo defender Luizão already has an agreement to join West Ham United.

With the player running out of contract with the Tricolor at the end of January, it was claimed the Hammers want him ‘as soon as possible’, and should even speak to the Brazilian club regarding the percentage of a future move.

However, it continues to look like West Ham will have to wait until the end of his contract to get him on a free transfer.

Goal Brasil now writes that Luizão should indeed sign a pre-contract with the Hammers and only join them at the end of his contract with São Paulo. That’s on the 31st of January.

It’s recalled that West Ham considered making an offer to anticipate the transfer, but São Paulo weren’t even contacted about that, so his exit as a free agent is ‘practically certain’.

With Luizão not negotiating a new contract and warning the Tricolor of the Hammers’ interest, there seems to be some bad feeling between club and player. That’s likely to make it more difficult for the London side to have him earlier.