£17m striker reacts when asked about joining West Ham or Wolves, 26-goal star overtakes Ronaldo

11/12/2024 07:15 AM

With West Ham United, Everton and Newcastle interested, another transfer window brings about yet more speculation surrounding one of football’s most perennially exit-linked centre-forwards.

West Ham had a bid worth £14 million turned down in the summer of 2023.

Wolverhampton Wanderers then came close that following January. And, before September’s transfer deadline, Southampton looked into a deal for Corinthians hitman Yuri Alberto too.

TBR understands that The Saints saw negotiations run aground due partly to financial reasons and also because, at the time, there was some uncertainty over whether there would be enough space in Russell Martin’s squad after Southampton failed to force through Paul Onuachu’s sale to Trabzonspor.

But, with a host of Premier League clubs again in the market for a number nine, the winter will bring about a familiar sense of uncertainty for the gossip column-dwelling Yuri Alberto.

TBR have been told that West Ham are again chasing the former Zenit St Petersburg man. Newcastle, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Brentford are also in contention, Alberto scoring 26 goals in all competitions this season.

Yuri Alberto asked about joining Wolves, West Ham or Southampton

The man himself, meanwhile, is refusing to close the door to a change of scenery in the New Year, with January 2024 potentially a case of ‘fourth time lucky’ for a man who has suffered his fair share of transfer disappointments.

"I've decided over the last few months that I'm going to take it one day at a time,” Alberto explains. “I'm very happy here but, if an offer comes along that's positive for me and Corinthians and we can reach an agreement for the sale to happen, great.

“If not, I'm happy too. I have a dream and I believe that the longer I stay here, the more mature I'll be to be able to live in the best way possible.”

The Santos academy graduate was quizzed specifically about the interest from Wolves, Southampton and long-time admirers West Ham.

The £17 million-rated Alberto had admitted in September that he ‘really wanted’ to leave Corinthians, meanwhile, though the well-travelled 23-year-old now insists that those comments were made in the heat of the battle following a difficult run of form both for the player and his club.

Brazil international Alberto opens up on frustrations at Corinthians

"I am always very sincere in the interviews I give. They asked me in a mixed zone about [the offer I received over the summer], and I said it was true,” Alberto explains.

“I was in a very fragile moment, going through humiliation. During the warm-up, I would score a goal and the fans would celebrate as if it were a goal in the game. For me, that was already a joke, I felt very uncomfortable.

“And when I made a mistake, they booed, which also made me very uncomfortable. The fans do their part, but they were very harsh and I thought about leaving.”

"When I got an offer, I told my agent; ‘Man, I think my cycle here is over. I no longer have the strength to go back to being that Yuri who gives his all on the field, who does his best for the team, who is still giving it his all after 90 minutes.'

“I did want to leave, but that's God's plan for my life.”

West Ham’s interest comes amid Niclas Fullkrug’s injury-hit start to life in England. Southampton have scored the least goals in the division with just seven, meanwhile, while Wolves had to wait until Saturday to get a long-awaited first win on the board.

Alberto’s tally of 26, meanwhile, means he is enjoying the third-most prolific season of any Corinthians player in the 21st century.

He has now overtaken the tally of 23 set by Brazil legend Ronaldo, and is just five short of matching Carlos Tevez in 2005.