Juventus and West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing 20-year-old Portuguese defensive prospect Tiago Gabriel from Serie A club US Lecce next year.
According to a report by Football Insider, Tiago Gabriel is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are eager to bolster their defensive unit by signing a centre-back next year. So, the 20-year-old US Lecce defensive prospect has emerged as a target for the East London outfit.
Nuno Espirito Santo has prioritised signing a centre-back in the winter transfer window, thus compelling West Ham to identify Gabriel as a target. However, the Hammers have fallen behind Juventus in the race to sign the Cascais native, and Lecce will not stand in his way if they receive a “decent offer” to sell him.
Who is Tiago Gabriel?
Tiago Gabriel has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Serie A since joining US Lecce from Estrela Amadora earlier this year. The youngster spent his formative years in Portugal, passing through the academies at Sporting CP and Vitoria Setubal before graduating from the youth division at Estrela Amadora.
The 20-year-old has made 17 appearances thus far for US Lecce while scoring once, with most of those outings coming in the 2025/26 season. Meanwhile, the Portuguese defensive prospect’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. West Ham United and Juventus are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
What next?
West Ham United’s interest in Tiago Gabriel makes sense. The Hammers are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the two transfer windows next year. Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos have struggled to make their mark during their spells with West Ham United. Additionally, Max Kilman faces an uncertain future at the London Stadium amid his links with Crystal Palace.
However, while Gabriel has emerged as a viable target for West Ham, they have fallen behind Juventus in the race to sign the promising defensive prospect. The Serie A giants are in a spot of bother over Gleison Bremer’s long-term future amid his links with several bigwigs. So, Gabriel is an option worth considering for Juventus.
Meanwhile, recent reports have suggested that Lecce will not stand in the 20-year-old Portuguese defender’s way, and the latest update has revealed the Serie A club will be happy to sell him for a “decent offer” in the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Gabriel.
