West Ham have agreed a deal to buy the defender Fabrício Bruno from Flamengo for £12.5m plus £2.5m in add-ons. The 28-year-old is in line to become the first signing since Julen Lopetegui was confirmed as head coach last week.
Fabrício Bruno made his Brazil debut against England at Wembley in March but has not been selected in the squad for this summer’s Copa América. The centre-back has not played for a club outside his homeland.
West Ham have made strengthening in central defence a priority. Kurt Zouma has had injury problems, Nayef Aguerd wants to leave, Angelo Ogbonna has not been offered a new contract and Konstantinos Mavropanos has been unconvincing since joining from Stuttgart in August.
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The Wolves captain, Maximilian Kilman, is another target in that position and West Ham have also been monitoring the Hull centre-back Jacob Greaves.
