West Ham United are reportedly among a number of clubs plotting a swoop for FC Basel hotshot Arthur Cabral in this January transfer window.
The Brazilian striker, 23, has been a roaring success for FC Basel since arriving from Palmeiras in 2019. He has now netted 65 goals in just 100 games for the Swiss club, including 27 in 31 outings this season, thus, making him coveted across Europe.
According to TransferMarketWeb, West Ham have launched a €15 million bid to sign Arthur Cabral from FC Basel. The striker, who is contracted with Basel until 2023, is also on the radar of Atalanta, Fiorentina, and Zenit Saint Petersburg, the report adds.
Considering just how prolific Cabral has been in Switzerland for close to three years now, it doesn’t come as a surprise to see the interest he is garnering from clubs across Europe of late. On top of 27 goals this term, the eight assists demonstrate the creative side of his game too, making him one of the hottest properties in the transfer market.
Arthur Cabral to West Ham—What will he add to David Moyes’ side?
West Ham are flying at the moment and are in contention to finish in the top four this season. They have also made it to the Europa League round of 32 and with the FA Cup competition set to commence from this weekend, David Moyes must beef up his squad in the ongoing transfer window to compete on all fronts.
Following injuries to Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma, signing a top-class centre-back is at the top of David Moyes’ agenda. In addition, the Scotsman must improve his options up front to cope with the worload of three competitions. Thus, signing a striker to cover and compete with Michail Antonio is a must, and Arthur Cabral would be a good fit at the London Stadium.
In that sense, Cabral’s arrival will certainly take some pressure off Antonio’s shoulders at West Ham. The FC Basel star is quick and direct and likes to find spaces in between defenders with smart link-up play and movement. In Basel colours, he has been ruthless in front of goal this season, and at 23 has plenty of time to further develop this aspect of his game.
The Brazilian has the required attributes to succeed in the hustle and bustle of Premier League football, whilst being the ideal customer to compete with Antonio for the centre-forward spot at West Ham. He can initially serve as a useful backup to Antonio with a view to replacing the Jamaican international in the long run.
Considering the fact that Arthur Cabral is just 23, he can only improve his overall game under a smart coach like Moyes. And if the Hammers can sign him for €15 million, the Brazilian striker could represent a bargain of the season.