In a recent tweet, journalist Bruno Lemos mentioned that West Ham United have set their sights on Flamengo defender Leo Ortiz. It has been claimed that the Hammers would have to rival Fiorentina and Juventus in the race to land the Brazilian centre-half.
Ortiz’s Impressive Form In Brazilian Football
Ortiz has been a dominant presence at the heart of Flamengo’s defence recently after he managed to put in a run of impressive displays for them in the Brazilian Serie A. The Porto Alegre-born talent has made 31 appearances for the Brazilian outfit thus far, scoring one goal and grabbing two assists in all competitions.
The 28-year-old has been a rock at the back for Flamengo based on his average of 1.1 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 1.6 clearances per 90 minutes in the Brazilian Serie A. He has even been accurate when distributing possession from inside his half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 87.4% in the top tier of Brazilian football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Brazilian club will run out at the end of 2028 which could make it difficult for West Ham to snap him up on the cheap next year.
Should West Ham United Boss Julen Lopetegui Go For Ortiz?
Ortiz loves a tackle and can time his challenges well to earn possession back for his team inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the offensive.
The Brazilian sensation can even use his strong 1.85m frame to win his fair share of aerial duels. However, he would need some time to cope with the high intensity of the Premier League if the Hammers manage to get a deal done for him next year.
We can expect Ortiz to add more quality and depth to West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui’s defence. He has what it takes to compete for a regular starting place at the London Stadium in the coming years.
At 28, Ortiz is playing in his prime which makes him a decent choice for the East London club to pursue in 2025. All in all, Lopetegui would be wise to go for a player of his quality this January or at the end of this season.
