According to the Portuguese news outlet Record (translated by the Daily Express), West Ham United are close to securing the services of Boavista teenage sensation Goncalo Cardoso. The same source has also mentioned that the Portuguese youngster will fly to London to finalise his transfer today after the Hammers agreed on a £2.7m (€3m) deal with Boavista.
The Rapid Rise Of Goncalo Cardoso In The Portuguese Top-Flight
Cardoso came through the youth ranks of FC Penafiel before making a switch to play for the Boavista Under-19 team in the summer of 2017. He finally managed to make a positive impression in the Liga NOS after breaking out as a first-team starter last season.
The 18-year-old enjoyed a fruitful campaign when he put in a series of impressive displays for the Portuguese outfit in the last term. At such a tender age, he managed to appear in 18 matches for the Liga NOS side across all competitions.
The Marco de Canaveses has also represented Portugal at the Under-19 level, having made 11 appearances for them while scoring three goals in the process. Cardoso is one of the brightest young defenders in European football so the Hammers would do well to prise him away from Portugal in this off-season.
What Will The Portuguese Whizkid Bring To The London Stadium?
Cardoso is a commanding presence at the back and knows how to dominate the opposition in the air using his incredible strength and leaping ability. He is also a reliable defender inside his own half and can make essential clearances for his side.
However, he is still quite raw and would need time to develop into a decent centre-back over the next few years. The addition of a youngster of Cardoso’s potential will undeniably bolster Manuel Pellegrini’s defensive options in the future.
Is Cardoso A Prospect For The Future?
For now, the European sensation needs to concentrate on developing his game so that he can prove his worth in the Premier League someday. There is no doubt that the Portuguese wonderkid is a star in the making so he could prove to be a massive coup for the Hammers in the long-run.
