Despite a rather subdued January transfer window, West Ham United managed to secure Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips on loan, aiming to fill the void left by Declan Rice. However, the spotlight shifted towards exits, particularly the controversy surrounding Said Benrahma’s departure. Now, as summer approaches, the Hammers are gearing up to offload another player under David Moyes’ watchful eye.
Lyon found themselves in a state of outrage when West Ham failed to register the Benrahma deal on FIFA’s Transfer Matching System, causing the transfer to initially collapse. Expressing their frustration, the French club issued a statement via Sky Sports, condemning West Ham’s actions as disrespectful towards both the institution and the player.
Fortunately, the deal was eventually salvaged, with Benrahma completing a loan move to Lyon until the season’s end, with an option to buy.
Determined to avoid a repeat scenario, West Ham has set its sights on further exits. According to reports from Brazilian outlet iG, the club is now eager to part ways with Luizao, rejecting loan offers from Brazilian sides in the process.
Having slapped a €5 (£4m) price tag on Luizao’s head, West Ham seems resolute in their decision to offload the forgotten defender.
Despite earning rave reviews for his performances with the U21s, Luizao has yet to feature for West Ham’s first team since his arrival in January 2023. At 21 years old, the central defender is in dire need of regular playing time, an opportunity unlikely to materialize at the London Stadium. With loan offers rejected, Luizao’s best chance at development lies in a permanent move elsewhere.
While his stint at West Ham may be labeled as a missed opportunity, Luizao still possesses the potential to carve out a successful career, perhaps back in South America. Only time will tell if he can prove the Hammers wrong for overlooking him. Regardless, his transfer saga serves as a cautionary tale from last January’s window.
