West Ham are looking to sign a new striker on loan during the January transfer window.
TBR Football understand West Ham have asked about Brighton No.28 Evan Ferguson – although the Seagulls are keen to assess an injury to Danny Welbeck before making a decision on the Irishman.
The Hammers certainly need some attacking reinforcements, after losing Jarrod Bowen for two months with a fractured foot, while Michail Antonio is also going to be sidelined for some time after breaking his leg in a car accident.
Now – according to UOL in Brazil – West Ham have made a bid to sign Arthur Cabral on loan.
West Ham make Arthur Cabral proposal
The Brazilian news outlet are now claiming that West Ham have submitted an offer to take the 26-year-old on loan from Benfica for the rest of the season.
UOL believe the east Londoners were even willing to include a purchase option for the summer, although Benfica are not currently entertaining such an offer.
The report states that both West Ham and Torino have seen loan proposals rejected by the Portuguese giants, with Benfica preferring to sell Cabral on an outright permanent deal this month.
However, Bruno Lage is still using the Brazilian striker regularly as a substitute, so Benfica do not plan to make an exit easy for the South American, and will only consider “interesting” bids.
Benfica paid €25m (£20.8m) to sign the man born in Campina Grande from Fiorentina back in August 2023 – so you would imagine any bid would need to be close to that figure.
Cabral – who boasts 130 goals in 313 games across his career – has scored five goals in 20 appearances so far this season.
Julen Lopetegui may not get to work with Arthur Cabral
If West Ham do manage to strike an agreement for Cabral this month, it could actually be Graham Potter who gets to coach him rather than Julen Lopetegui.
TBR Football understand West Ham have opted to sack Lopetegui and meet with the Englishman – after a run of two wins in eight Premier League games left the Irons 14th in the Premier League, seven points above the relegation zone.
West Ham are yet to release an official announcement regarding their decision on the Spaniard – but we understand it is only a matter of time.