West Ham United are interested in the services of Atletico Mineiro defender Guilherme Arana.
According to Jorge Nicola (h/t Sport Witness), West Ham United are among the clubs keeping tabs on Guilherme Arana. The Atletico Mineiro full-back has raised many eyebrows with his performances in the Brazilian league, with many expecting him to earn a move back to Europe in the summer.
Although West Ham are yet to make a bid for Arana, they have certainly made contact, exploring the possibility of the defender’s potential move to London Stadium. Jorge Nicola believes West Ham are not alone in the pursuit, with Wolverhampton Wanderers also interested in his services.
A left-back by trade, Arana had started his career at Corinthians. He was a member of the club’s youth academy and made 58 competitive appearances for the team before earning an €11 million move to Sevilla in 2018.
The move to Spain, though, did not work out. He endured a couple of difficult seasons at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan before being shipped to Atalanta on a loan deal. His spell in Bergamo was not successful either, prompting Sevilla to sell him back to Brazil for just €2.5 million.
Arana was snapped up by Atletico Mineiro in early 2020, initially on a loan deal. But following his impressive performances in Brazil, his move was made permanent last summer. Arana has racked up over 100 competitive matches at Atletico Mineiro upon his return to Brazil, impressing the onlookers with his consistent performances.
The 25-year-old’s performances have not gone unnoticed either. Brazilian coach Tite has already handed him three caps over the past eight months, and it appears West Ham are now hot on his trail, as David Moyes looks to shore up his options at the back.
Especially in the left-back unit, the Hammers have lacked a proper alternative for Aaron Cresswell. Arthur Masuaku has usually filled in for the role, but his performances have been far from impressive. It has compelled Moyes to look for options in the transfer market, with the Scot keeping close tabs on Hoffenheim starlet David Raum.
Someone like Guilherme Arana, though, could be a shrewd option for West Ham. The 25-year-old has showcased excellent form over the past couple of years and has recently represented Brazil on the international stage. With 13 goals and 20 assists at Atletico Mineiro, he is just the kind of attacking full-back Moyes needs in order to breathe new life into his team’s approach play.
The report suggests an unnamed Premier League club could weigh up a bid of around €19 million for Arana this summer. West Ham remain the likely candidate and given the performances Arana has shown lately, it could well turn out to be a bargain for the Londoners.
