Fabrizio Romano had an update for West Ham United this week, with Real Madrid benchwarmer Endrick having been joined on their January wishlist by Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee.
A less-than-positive update at that. At least, from Nuno Espirito Santo’s perspective.
Hammers News have already reported that Nuno wants a striker signed in the transfer window. The former Wolves, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest boss has only been in the West Ham United dugout for a month. Yet, after four matches, two goals and after Nuno lost Niclas Fullkrug to yet another injury, it has not taken him long to realise what every supporter suspected going into the season.
That having Fullkrug, Callum Marshall and a 33-year-old Callum Wilson as your centre-forward options is simply asking for trouble.
Hammers News were told, by chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that West Ham have held discussions with Real Madrid regarding both Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia.
Joshua Zirkzee is another January option, alongside the similarly seldom-seen Kobbie Mainoo.
Speaking on his official YouTube channel, however, Fabrizio Romano has indicated that West Ham supporters hoping for some movement surrounding Endrick, Zirkzee and Mainoo should not be holding their breath.
Fabrizio Romano says West Ham ‘called’ Manchester United about Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee
Just days after fellow transfer market doyen David Ornstein played down West Ham’s hopes of landing either of the Manchester United substitutes, Romano was equally pessimistic.
“Mainoo and Zirkzee have this desire to play more, but Ruben Amorim is insisting on keeping them because there will be many games. Amorim wants as many players as possible for the second part of the season,” Romano explains.
“There is interest from Napoli [in Mainoo]. There is also interest from West Ham.
“West Ham have called to understand the situation of both Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo on loan, to give them the opportunity to play [and] to give them the chance maybe to go to the World Cup.
“But at the moment, Man United are not open to any negotiation. Nothing is evolving around this.”
Netherlands international Zirkzee will be omitted from Ronald Koeman’s World Cup squad should things continue as they are at Old Trafford. But, while he has played only 82 minutes of Premier League football all season, Ruben Amorim insists that Zirkzee has a role to play as back-up to the exciting-but-raw Benjamin Sesko.
Romano says Endrick could leave Real Madrid for Lyon loan
Endrick, however, can only dream of having played 82 minutes of football in 2025/26. A £52 million teenager snapped up from Palmeiras, the 19-year-old is yet to even get on the pitch since Real Madrid hired Xabi Alonso.
He has slipped behind Gonzalo Garcia, another Real Madrid youngster, in Alonso’s pecking order.
But, while Hammers News have learned that the finances involved make a move to West Ham highly unlikely, Romano now reports that Endrick could follow in the footsteps of icon Karim Benzema at Lyon instead.
“He wants to play, he needs to play,” Romano explains. “Endrick will go on loan. Lyon have started official talks with Endrick’s camp over a loan deal.
“Negotiations are ongoing already, because Lyon don’t want to lose any time. They want Endrick in their squad on the 1st of January.
“Endrick is open to joining Lyon. He is going to take some time before deciding which club is the best for him, but the offer is really tempting him. Endrick has always been a big, big fan of Karim Benzema [who started out at Lyon before going on to win the Ballon D’or at Real Madrid].
“There are several clubs interested. But Lyon have arrived, presented their project, and are tempting the player.”
Brazil internationals Pedro and Kaio Jorge presented to the Hammers
Hammers News were informed on Tuesday that West Ham have been ‘offered’ Pedro and Kaio Jorge, a pair of Brazil internationals who will be battling Endrick for a spot on Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup-bound plane next summer.
Pedro, heavily linked with the Hammers back in 2023, scored 30 goals for Flamengo last season. Kaio Jorge is in prolific form himself in the blue of Cruzeiro, though the ex-Juventus starlet has reservations about returning to Europe.
Intermediaries have contacted West Ham to inform the Premier League strugglers about the potential availability of two strikers ranked joint-first and fourth in the Brazil top-flight’s Golden Boot race.
