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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Malik Ouzia

West Ham prepare Luis Guilherme medical as Julen Lopetegui closes in on £20m first signing

West Ham are closing in on a deal worth more than £20million to sign 18-year-old Brazilian Luis Guilherme.

The winger arrived in London on Monday and is due to undergo a medical on Tuesday.

His move from Palmeiras would make him the first signing of the Julen Lopetegui era at the London Stadium.

Guilherme is considered among the best young talents in Brazil. He made his Palmeiras debut last year aged 17 and played in the Copa Libertadores this season.

West Ham are targeting as many as six signings this summer as they look to give Lopetegui major early backing.

Hammers technical director Tim Steidten is set to lead a significant overhaul of the first-team squad, with a centre-forward, right-back and at least one new centre-back understood to be top of the agenda this summer.

Steidten has been in Brazil for talks over several deals. Guilherme was subject of late interest from the Saudi Pro League but West Ham hope to wrap up a deal for him.

Top talent: West Ham are poised to secure the signing of Palmeiras starlet Luis Guilherme (Getty Images)

While West Ham are targeting players from Brazil, they will also be forced to target homegrown talent or else risk falling foul of Premier League regulations, which limit clubs to a maximum of 17 non-qualified players in their squads.

The Hammers are exploring a number of options in the Championship.

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