Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United have failed with their attempt to sign Benfica attacking sensation Arthur Cabral.
Julen Lopetegui’s debut campaign at West Ham is not really going according to plan as they are 14th in the Premier League and a few more poor results could push them into the relegation battle. The Spanish manager is looking to reinforce his team in the winter window and get things back on track.
The former Wolves manager wants more firepower in the final third of the pitch and his team did knock on Benfica’s door for the services of Arthur Cabral. But, according to a report from UOL, the Hammers’ loan offer has been turned down by the Portuguese outfit.
Cabral made the move to the Portuguese club in the summer of 2023 from Fiorentina in a deal worth €20 million plus another €5 million in add-ons. While the 26-year-old Brazilian striker is more of a backup option at Benfica, he has still done a decent job so far.
In the ongoing season, he has been on the pitch for just 544 minutes across his 20 appearances and has managed to contribute with five goals and an assist. His performances have attracted the interest of West Ham and they are looking to prise him away from Benfica.
West Ham’s offer for Cabral was not good enough
Since he is not a regular starter at his club, the Irons feel they have a realistic chance of signing him. With Michail Antonio out injured, they need a new number nine and Cabral could be a great addition to their ranks.
West Ham knocked on the doors of Benfica to sign the Brazilian striker on loan. They were ready to include a purchase option at the end of the loan spell but their offer has been turned down by the Portuguese club.
While they are ready to negotiate his departure, Benfica will only entertain permanent offers that meet their expectations. Given the kind of impact Cabral has had off the bench, they won’t let him leave on the cheap.
Meanwhile, the Liga Portugal outfit are in full control of the situation as his contract runs until the summer of 2028. It will be interesting to see if the Hammers return with a revised offer in the coming days.
