Fulham are reportedly closing in on the signing of Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia.
According to a report from Lance, Fulham are set to beat Premier League rivals West Ham United in the race to sign the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder.
Apparently, Fulham have been locked in talks to sign the Brazilian midfielder since October and a transfer is expected to be completed at the end of the season. The Londoners will reportedly pay a fee of around €10 million for Maia.
West Ham were extremely keen on signing the player as well but they had an offer turned down by Sao Paulo. Apparently, the Hammers offered to take the player on loan with an option to buy.
Pablo Maia has a contract with the Brazilian club until the summer of 2023 and it will be interesting to see if he can impress with Fulham next season. The Londoners have done well in the Premier League since their promotion to the top flight.
They will be hoping to put together a formidable squad in the coming months that can help establish themselves as a Premier League club for the long run. Maia is certainly talented and he could become a big player for the Londoners.
The 20-year-old is still quite young and he is likely to improve a lot with game time and experience. Fulham will be hoping to nurture him carefully over the next few years and help him fulfill his potential.
A move to the Premier League would be a major step up in the player’s career and it will be interesting to see how he copes with English football. It will be a steep learning curve for the youngster and he will need time to adapt.
However, he should be able to develop at his own pace without too much pressure at a club like Fulham.
Meanwhile, West Ham will probably look to shift their attention elsewhere now. David Moyes needs to add more quality to his midfield and it will be interesting to see who the Hammers bring in.
