'£25m to West Ham': Pundit now performs complete U-turn on star's Hammers transfer

The struggles of Niclas Fullkrug in the Premier League does little to dispel the myth that joining West Ham United is, for centre-forwards, the footballing equivalent of wishing a thespian ‘good luck’ just before he takes to the stage.

West Ham has long been seen as something of a cursed institution as far as strikers go.

Gianluca Scamacca was pretty prolific either side of his ill-fated spell at the London Stadium. Ditto Sebastian Haller.

And as Niclas Fullkrug spent much of his first few months in England stuck on the treatment table, the £27 million summer signing from Borussia Dortmund must have wondered if he too had unknowingly walked under a few ladders and smashed a few mirrors on his way to The Hammers’ training ground.

So, if any of West Ham’s January targets have a superstitious streak, you could understand why they would take to tossing a handful of salt over their left shoulder after picking up the phone to Tim Steidten or Julen Lopetegui.

TBR Football understands that West Ham like Botafogo frontman Igor Jesus. They are stepping up their interest in the £30 million Brazil international, having performed background checks.

Director Tim Steidten likes Jonathan Burkhardt of Mainz. Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath has been linked with West Ham as well, alongside Evan Ferguson of Brighton and Hove Albion.

Long-time target Yuri Alberto is back on West Ham’s radar too, one year after the former Conference League champions saw a £14 million bid rejected by Corinthians.

Former Brazil ace doubts West Ham’s Yuri Alberto move

Not so long ago, former Selecao forward Neto felt a £25 million switch to the English capital was pretty much inevitable for Yuri Alberto.

But after hearing the Brazilian Serie A Golden Boot winner express his interest in staying put at Corinthians, now, he is not so sure.

“I had said that he would be sold for £25 million to West Ham,” Neto, who earned 16 caps for Brazil in the 1980s and 1990s and now works as a pundit back home.

“But [Yuri Alberto’s move to the London Stadium] will no longer happen, because he will stay until the July 2025 window.”

TBR have been told that Corinthians will not demand quite as much as £25 million.

But, if they are serious about finally getting their man, West Ham must pay a £5 million loan fee for Yuri Alberto, plus a further £10 million if they wish to make the deal permanent in the summer.

Corinthians would also expect the 23-year-old’s wages to be paid in full, while including bonuses which could earn them further windfalls if he impresses in England.

Yuri Alberto admits Premier League ‘dream’ amid Newcastle interest

In addition to West Ham, TBR have been told that Newcastle United, Everton, Brentford and Nottingham Forest are watching the one-time Brazil international too.

Yuri Alberto is keen on a switch to the Premier League. But, after almost single-handedly dragging Corinthians from a relegation battle to the comfort of seventh place, he is a man torn.

“I really want to [stay at Corinthians],” Yuri Alberto muses, rating his chances of a 2025 exit at 50/50. “But I also have a dream of playing in Europe, in the Premier League.”

“I’m very happy here. Even more so because I’ve found my best form. I was even joking with the guys at the training centre before the game against Bahia [on the final day of the 2024 season]. I said; ‘Man, this is the last training camp here at home, at the hotel’.

“It’s very rare for this to happen, and it’s the first time that I don’t want the year to end! I don’t want it to end because, at the moment, I’m living, I’m very happy.

“On the field, things are happening with enormous naturalness. I [feel] light, doing my things with great ease. I’m enjoying each day as if it were my last.”