West Ham are facing a race against the clock to land another striker for David Moyes but technical director Tim Steidten is working tirelessly to make something happen for the London Stadium hierarchy. The relentless German chief, who has enjoyed huge success in the market this summer following the club-record sale of Declan Rice, is currently in Brazil where he now intends to explore the possibility of signing Flamengo frontman Pedro after failing to entice Corinthians into the sale of target Yuri Alberto.
West Ham are understood to have seen an opening bid rejected for the 22-year-old attacker on Monday and Corinthians have made it abundantly clear they do not intend to sell.
Corinthians are due to face Estudiantes in the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana in Argentina in the early hours of Wednesday morning and having already lost several key players in the past few weeks, they have no interest in doing business with the Hammers.
The Irons’ opening bid is believed to have been worth in the region of £15million but any deal is further complicated by Alberto’s economic rights and the involvement of several agents and intermediaries.
Corinthians have a 50 per cent split with Zenit St Petersburg where the Brazil international spent six months between January and June 2022.
The Brazilian club recently sold forward Roger Guedes to Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan meaning if they were to also sanction Alberto’s exit, they would be down to bare bones in attack.
Although Alberto is not universally popular with Corinthians’ supporters due to his inconsistent goalscoring form, the board continue to count on him particularly given the Brazilian transfer window is now closed – meaning there is no time to find a replacement.
But with Steidten still in South America, all hope is not lost as Flamengo’s Pedro is a target that has been tracked since the opening weeks of the summer window.
In the past, Flamengo president Rodolfo Landim has made it clear he will only sell Pedro if his £87m release clause is met meaning it could prove to be another complex negotiation.
Talks with Sevilla for Youssef En-Nesyri have also failed to bear fruit and his exit could be blocked if Lucas Ocampos seals a switch to Fulham.
The Cottagers are believed to have agreed a deal in principle for the Argentine, who is yet to decide whether he wants to make the move to west London.
Express Sport understands En-Nesyri has been missing from Sevilla training this week but his absence is not related to his future.
Initial talks have also been held over a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike, who like En-Nesyri, is of long-term interest to the Hammers.
Ekitike can leave PSG at the right price but any deal would have to coincide with West Ham’s finances if they were to pull the trigger on a deal.
Jesse Lingard remains in training with West Ham and there is still a chance he could earn a short-term contract with the Hammers.
Meanwhile, West Ham are still waiting to learn whether Chelsea would sanction a loan deal for Ian Maatsen.
Crucially, the Dutchman qualifies as a homegrown player and he is a popular pick amongst West Ham’s transfer committee following his exceptional loan spell with Burnley.
Mauricio Pochettino likes the player, however and is unlikely to allow him to depart if Manchester United agree a loan move for Marc Cucurella following Luke Shaw’s recent injury.
It is highly unlikely Chelsea keep all three of their current left-backs (including Ben Chilwell) at the club beyond the transfer deadline.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1807075/West-Ham-transfer-news-Yuri-Alberto-Ian-Maatsen-Chelsea
