Fulham and West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia.
According to Jorge Nicola, Fulham and West Ham United are keen on signing Pablo Maia. The 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been on the radar of Premier League clubs for a long time, and a January move might be on the cards.
The 21-year-old has been a key player for Sao Paulo and he has established himself as an indispensable asset for them. The Brazilian outfit could demand a premium for him if the two Premier League clubs come calling.
The midfielder has a contract with the Brazilian club until the end of 2027 and they are under no pressure to cash in on him just yet. It is understandable why Fulham and West Ham United are keen on signing a quality young defensive between like him.
Joao Palhinha has been linked with a move away from Fulham and they will need to replace him adequately. If the Portuguese international leaves the club at the end of the season, Maia could be his ideal long-term successor at the club.
As far as West Ham are concerned, they have already replaced Declan Rice with Edson Alvarez. However, Tomas Soucek has been linked with the move away from the club in recent weeks.
West Ham will have to replace the Czech Republic international as well and Maia would be a superb acquisition.
The 21-year-old could be attracted to the idea of playing in the Premier League and the opportunity to join clubs like Fulham and West Ham would be hard to turn down.
Both clubs certainly have the financial resources to convince Sao Paulo to sell the talented young midfielder and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops.
West Ham are currently competing in the UEFA Europa League and that could give them an edge in the transfer race. The opportunity to join a club with European football could be a lucrative option for the player.
The 21-year-old will look to continue his development with regular football and fulfil his world-class potential. The likes of Fulham and West Ham might have to provide him with game-time assurances before a transfer can go through.
