WEST HAM AND FULHAM BACK IN FOR JANUARY TARGET BUT STAR’S VALUE RISES BY £5M
Premier League rivals West Ham United and Fulham are still in the mix for Paulo Maia but Sao Paulo have increased the midfielder’s market value by £5 million in recent months.
That is according to Jorge Nicola, one of the most reliable and knowledgeable reporters in Brazilian football.
Nicola was the source of much information regarding West Ham United’s pursuit of Pablo Maia’s former Sao Paulo team-mate Luizao, so his word certainly carries plenty of weight as the Hammers cast their eyes over another Tricolor talent.
West Ham face Fulham battle for Pablo Maia
“Pablo Maia is wanted by two Premier League clubs; West Ham United and Fulham,” Nicola explains via his YouTube channel.
21-year-old Maia is one of the finest deep-lying midfielders in Brazil. An excellent ball-winner but a fine passer too. This is not the first time West Ham or Fulham have shown an interest either. Both clubs reportedly submitted bids around the turn of the year, West Ham trying and failing to sign Maia on loan after Fulham had seen a £6 million bid rejected.
Recent reports from Spain have indicated that Sao Paulo would now be willing to accept a knock-down fee, but Nicola insists that could not be further from the truth.
“I can tell you that, at (a reported) seven million euros, there is no chance of the Tricolor negotiating Maia’s sale. He is experiencing a period of good form after becoming a starter (at Sao Paulo). He’s a super important piece in protecting the defence but also in the build-up,” Nicola adds.
“At a certain point earlier in the year, president Julio Casares was willing to sell Maia for 10 million euros. But no more. Sao Paulo now asks for something in the region of 15 million euros, in the knowledge that Maia has the potential to shine in European football.”
Now worth £13 million
Maia has already admitted that his ‘dream is to play in Europe’. He could potentially be a long-term replacement for the much-coveted Joao Palhinha at Fulham, or perhaps the man to provide a link between Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in a new-look West Ham midfield.
