West Ham United are reportedly all set to be involved in a transfer tussle to sign Flamengo defensive mainstay Leo Ortiz.
According to Bruno Lemos, West Ham United are one of the three clubs that are keen on signing Leo Ortiz. The Hammers seek defensive reinforcement, and they could rival Juventus and Fiorentina in a three-way battle for the services of the Flamengo mainstay.
Ortiz came up the ranks at Internacional and made a name for himself while playing for them. He has had a lot of spells at different clubs in Brazil and made the move to Flamengo in March this year. Over the last eight months, he has featured in 31 matches and has even contributed towards three goals.
The 28-year-old’s performances have put him on the radar of multiple top clubs. While his contract with the Brazilian outfit runs until the end of 2028, there are clubs who are willing to prise him away in the near future.
West Ham to battle Italian outfits for Ortiz
Italian giants Juventus are one of the clubs that have been linked with Ortiz. The Old Lady are looking to reinforce their backline with Gleison Bremer out for the majority of the season. The Brazilian centre-back’s consistent performances have put him on their wishlist.
Fiorentina have also expressed interest in acquiring his services as they seek more quality at the club. West Ham are ready to battle both Serie A clubs to his signature. The Hammers lack depth at the back having parted ways with quite a few of their defenders during the summer.
While they added Jean-Clair Todio and Maximilian Kilman to their squad in the summer, they only have four defensive options, and Julen Lopetegui wants to add a few more. West Ham did show interest in signing the 28-year-old in the previous window. But things did not go according to plan.
The East London club could return for his signature in the summer as their search for a new central defender continues. Ortiz has been a consistent performer for Flamengo, and he could be an ideal option to strengthen West Ham’s defensive rotation. But, it won’t be easy to sign him given the amount of competition.
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