Following reports from the English media this week saying West Ham United made an approach for Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia, we now get to see very interesting updates coming from the Brazilian press including Fulham.
Outlet Lance shows up confirming that the Hammers indeed opened talks to sign the 20-year-old.
That happened when the clubs were negotiating the transfer of Luizao, who’s set to complete that same move in the coming weeks.
And the reason why West Ham couldn’t succeed in the negotiations for Pablo Maia is actually said to be Fulham, who are also working to sign the 20-year-old.
Lance claims the talks between the Tricolor and the Whites for a €10m transfer have been underway since October.
The move only wasn’t done yet because Fulham would like to have the player arriving in January, while Sao Paulo work to hold him until the end of the year.
The story claims the talks with the Craven Cottage side are well ‘forwarded’, and it seems the Brazilian club didn’t want to suddenly start negotiating with a different club, or maybe West Ham just couldn’t outbid Fulham in the pursuit for the youngster.