US Lecce will reportedly demand at least €40 million to part ways with 20-year-old breakout Portuguese defender Tiago Gabriel amid his links with West Ham United.
According to a report by Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, 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.
Recent reports suggested that the Premier League club submitted a bid worth around €18 million to sign the Cascais-born defender from US Lecce. However, that will not be enough, as the Serie A club will demand at least €40 million to part ways with Gabriel. Meanwhile, West Ham and Brentford “have made the most concrete moves” to sign the youngster.
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 20-year-old 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.
Gabriel has made 19 appearances thus far for US Lecce while chipping in with one goal, 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 will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
London calling?
West Ham United’s interest in Tiago Gabriel makes sense. The Hammers are combing 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.
Meanwhile, Igor Julio has struggled for regular game time since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer transfer window. Several candidates have thus emerged on West Ham’s radar, with Gabriel also a viable target. The latest report has revealed US Lecce’s asking price to sell the youngster.
The Serie A club will demand around €40 million to part ways with the 20-year-old Portuguese defender. Meanwhile, West Ham will face stiff competition from Juventus for the youngster’s signature. However, the Hammers and Brentford “have made the most concrete moves” to sign Gabriel, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for him.
