In a recent report, UOL stated that West Ham United would have to pay €40m for Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque. It has been mentioned that the Hammers will have to make an improved bid if they are to convince the Brazilian club to part ways with their prized asset.
Roque’s Impressive Rise In Brazilian Football
Roque came through the youth ranks of Cruzeiro before sealing a move to Athletico Paranaense last summer. The Timoteo-born talent has already made 36 senior appearances for the Brazilian club, banging in seven goals and grabbing three assists in the process across multiple competitions.
The Brazilian whizkid has caught the eye at times in the final third by averaging 1.4 shots, 0.4 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Brasileirao. However, he has to find a way to improve his ball distribution in the opponent’s half after completing only 70% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Brazilian football (stats via whoscored).
His current deal at the Brazilian club is set to run out in the summer of 2027. Therefore, the Hammers have no choice but to meet Athletico Paranaense’s asking price if they are serious about recruiting Roque.
West Ham United Would Have To Pay €40m For Vitor Roque: Is He A Prospect For The Future?
Roque can generate space for himself to get a few strikes in at goal and has got the vision to engineer some meaningful chances for his teammates in the final third. He is a decent dribbler with the ball as well and is still quite inexperienced at the highest level.
Still, there is no denying that the Brazilian talent has got the potential to become one of the best players in his position someday. However, there are some concerns over whether he can cope with the physical side of English football.
Roque is already good enough to serve as a sporadic presence in West Ham head coach David Moyes‘ squad. He has what it takes to become a success story at the London Stadium in the long run. At 17, the future looks quite promising for him as long as he continues to develop his all-around game with each season.
With all things considered, Roque is undoubtedly a prospect to watch out for in the coming years as he matures as a footballer. Thus, the Hammers should think about submitting an improved bid to bring the Brazilian prospect to the English capital at the end of this campaign.
