Exclusive: West Ham step up interest in £30m forward who thinks he's 'quite similar' to Vinicius Jr
Today at 05:45 AM
TBR Football can exclusively reveal that West Ham United have added another striker to their striker shortlist ahead of the January transfer window with Brazil international Igor Jesus an option for the Premier League outfit.
Julen Lopetegui’s Hammers are prioritising attacking additions in the New Year.
With Niclas Fullkrug’s involvement limited and Michail Antonio now unavailable for the foreseeable future, West Ham United look a little short at the top end of the pitch with Jarrod Bowen forced to fill a central role and Danny Ings, out of favour not so long ago, in contention.
TBR can confirm that West Ham are looking at Yuri Alberto of Corinthians and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson. Director Tim Steidten is a fan of Mainz frontman Jonathan Burkhardt.
But another name to keep an eye on is Igor Jesus.
TBR Football’s chief correspondentGraeme Bailey has been told that West Ham are running background checks on Botafogo’s number ten. He is now most certainly on their list of January targets.
The last few months, meanwhile, have seen Igor Jesus explode onto the scene back home. The 23-year-old marked his Brazil debut with the winner against Chile in a World Cup qualifier back in October.
He also played the full 90 minutes as Botafogo beat Atletico Mineiro to claim the Copa Libertadores, South America’s answer to the Champions League.
As such, Botafogo are rumoured to be looking at around £30 million for Igor Jesus.
And while West Ham may have some reservations with some of their Brazil-based additions struggling in recent times, it appears that the London Stadium outfit are stepping up their interest in Igor Jesus having initially made enquiries via an intermediary back in November.
West Ham signed young winger Luis Guilherme for £25 million from Palmeiras last summer. The 18-year-old has played only 11 minutes of Premier League football since then under Lopetegui, though TBR understands that West Ham are staying patient with Luis Guilherme.
Former Sao Paulo defender Luizao, meanwhile, is yet to make his top-flight debut nearly two years after he crossed the Atlantic.
Igor Jesus likens himself to Real Madrid stars Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo
Botafogo president Durcesio Mello, speaking a few weeks back, accepts that the Copa Libertadores winners are likely to lose a few of their key players in the New Year. TBR have been told that Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle like Igor Jesus too, alongside Fulham and Nottingham Forest.
"[Our chief scout] is already working on next year because he knows there will be losses," Mello told Resenha Alvinegra. "Probably Igor Jesus [will leave]."
He may be a centre-forward, meanwhile, but Igor Jesus likens his game to that of Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, as well as Real Madrid’s superstar duo Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr.
"The national team have a very pacey attack when you look at players like Vinicius, Rodrygo and Martinelli," Jesus told reporters shortly after marking his Selecao bow with a well-taken header to see of Chile. "I think my game is quite similar to theirs.
"I like to try to attack the spaces and I am mobile. I don't just stay in the box. I am capable of holding onto balls played out by the keeper and holding off defenders, which I think helps to ease the pressure on the team in tough passages of play.
"I hope I can play well so that I get called up for future squads too."
