West Ham are close to finalising a deal for Boavista centre-back Goncalo Cardoso, according to reports in the English media. The Hammers are said to have agreed a £3m fee.
The defender is only 18 years of age but it is believed that he will become part of the first-team squad if he doe finalise his move to England. He is expected to fly in for a medical this week.
Supporters on Twitter think Cardoso could be a good addition to the squad:
Geezer looks quality for his age.. another gem in the making ⚒?❤
— Darren Forrester (@Irons1974_) 5 August 2019
Looks good in the obligatory YouTube montages. Good vision as well as a handy defender. Also found a vid from 2 seasons ago with a player of the same name looking pretty handy as a left back.
— Zentavius (@ZentaviusTV) 5 August 2019
But only another one for the future , feel its more the full backs that need addressing ! I’ve lost count the amount of times we’ve shipped goals in coming down our left side
— DannyBoy⚒ (@DannyJPHops) 5 August 2019
Is he any better than our own second team rising star defender?
— West Ham Ironess (@IronessWest) 5 August 2019
Real talent , left footed aswell
— Paolo (@ellingford_paul) 5 August 2019
Surely an 18 year old kid with potential is not going to be competing for a first team spot soon? We still need an experienced CB and CM – is there likely to be anyone else coming? A transfer window which started so well is ending with a damp squib
— Mark (@harveymb01) 5 August 2019
Effectively a straight swap for oxford in terms of price and squad status…was this deal dependent on oxford being sold or is the timing just coincidence??
— dbon (@davidjboniface) 5 August 2019
This is a 1 for the future signing, cant see him making the 1st team. Watched him play against Benfica earlier in the year in a 5-1 defeat and despite not remembering him exactly the 5-1 says it all really but I have read some good things about him but wouldnt get to excited
— ???????⚽️⚒?⛏?? (@Steve_V84) 5 August 2019
Won’t be long till he’s in the starting XI..from his YouTube showreel looks like he can play LB too?
— Phil Mayne (@PhilMayne01) 5 August 2019
And this is something we need to do more of. Not sure how many players we have like that in our U23 butbthis is the stuff Hullisos should be doing during the season ready for when the window opens
— Matt Drysdale (@matt_mattd5677) 5 August 2019
It may come as a surprise to some that West Ham have gone for a player with so little experience. The teenager has made just senior 18 appearances so far in his fledgeling career.
The Irons were said to be tracking former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, New York Red Bulls’ Aaron Long and Alaves’s Guillermo Maripan. However, it seems all three were not deemed viable financially and the club have opted for a player with potential instead.
