West Ham United could be stepping up their pursuit of Brazil international Guilherme Arana during the January transfer window as they search for a new left-back, according to sources confirmed by 90min.
Arana has recently reclaimed his spot in the Selecao squad, thanks to a string of impressive performances at Atletico Mineiro, earning him five caps at the senior level. His most recent outing for Brazil was a 1-1 draw against Venezuela in World Cup qualifying, where he played the full 90 minutes at left-back.
Representatives from various European clubs were in attendance to scout Arana, with Premier League sides Brentford, West Ham, and Wolves showing interest. West Ham’s pursuit appears to be the most advanced, as they’ve been monitoring the 26-year-old throughout the year.
With just over 12 months left on his contract, Atletico Mineiro may not stand in the way if West Ham decides to make a move for Arana. West Ham has been deploying Emerson Palmieri at left-back this season, especially with Aaron Cresswell currently sidelined due to injury. Thilo Kehrer and Ben Johnson have also filled in on the left flank at times this term.
Brentford is also on the lookout for a left-back following Rico Henry’s ACL injury. Meanwhile, Arana’s performance against Venezuela caught the attention of scouts from Lens, Lille, and Lyon in France, Italian rivals Lazio and Roma, as well as German outfit Werder Bremen.
Arana has previous experience playing in Europe, having spent two seasons with Sevilla from 2017 to 2019. He later joined Atalanta on a season-long loan before returning to Brazilian football in 2020. West Ham will be hoping to secure his services to bolster their squad as they continue their Premier League campaign.