A shock claim has been made that Fulham have beaten West Ham to the signing of Brazilian star Andre Trindade who Tim Steidten scouted in Copa Libertadores final.
West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten became an instant hit when he oversaw one of the club’s best transfer windows for years in the summer.
The German helped the Hammers spend the Declan Rice money very wisely indeed with the arrivals of Edson Alvarez, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Mohammed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse.
Meanwhile over in west London, Fulham did not do too badly themselves in the summer window. And the Cottagers even managed to resist multiple big money bids from West Ham for star player Joao Palhinha.
Photo by Caique Coufal/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Ask any West Ham fan and they’ll tell you when Steidten gets on his jet he rarely comes back empty handed.
So there was excitement when we reported on Hammers News about claims from one of our sister sites in Brazil, Vamo Fluminense, that the Hammers had identified Fluminense midfield ace Andre Trindade as a January signing.
The Hammers had a representative – believed to have been Steidten or one of his scouts – at the Maracana on Saturday to watch the Brazilian side’s first ever Copa Libertadores win over Boca Juniors.
So too did several clubs including Fulham after being tracked by them, the Hammers and other Premier League sides.
And now there’s a shock claim that Fulham have beaten West Ham to signing of Brazilian star Andre Trindade who Steidten scouted in Copa Libertadores final.
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Football365 are reporting that Fulham have ‘surged into the lead’ for Andre – who has made two appearances for the Brazil senior team.
So it seems all the way back in July 90min may have called it when they stated Fulham were ‘hoping’ to sign the defensive midfield ace ahead of West Ham and others.
Of all the positions West Ham need to strengthen in the January window, defensive midfield is surely one of the lowest priorities.
Yes the Hammers need to be ready to pounce for top talent as and when they become available.
But signing a striker is the clear focus for West Ham above all else right now.
Especially following the serious injury sustained by Michail Antonio and the fact David Moyes will likely lose Mohammed Kudus, Said Benrahma and Maxwel Cornet to AFCON for five or six games between January and February.
