According to a detailed report from Globo Esporte, West Ham United hit a serious snag in their efforts to add more firepower to their front line. This roadblock popped up after Cruzeiro turned down a solid €25 million offer for their star attacker, Kaio Jorge.
Kaio Jorge saga:
The Hammers first set up this big-money deal as a loan that would turn into a permanent move later. However, the Brazilian club is not budging despite the cash the English side put on the table. To be exact, the offer included a €4 million fee right away for the loan. A €21 million commitment made up the rest, and performance goals would have kicked in that final payment.
This refusal from Cruzeiro really messes with the recruitment plans for the East London side. They are hunting hard for a goalscorer who can deliver before the January window closes. West Ham United have chased the former Juventus man since the end of the summer.
Even so, the 23-year-old’s top form right now makes him a pricey and tough target to land. On top of that, the striker had a massive 2025 season where he had a hand in 35 goals. That kind of production pushed his price tag up and even caught the eye of Aston Villa.
Even with the pull of the Premier League, the player is sticking with his immediate future in South America for now. He really wants to play in the Copa Libertadores next year. Plus, the Brazilian thinks staying in the spotlight in Brazil gives him a better shot at a spot.
He wants to make Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the next World Cup. Since Cruzeiro are standing firm and will not sell their best player for that price, West Ham have to face the truth. They probably will not be able to get a deal done for Jorge right now.
Is This a Significant Setback for West Ham?
This is a big blow because the Hammers really need someone to take over for Niclas Fullkrug, who might be leaving. They are still looking at other options like Joshua Zirkzee. Still, they missed out on a striker who is already scoring goals and leading the line. This failure puts a lot of heat on the recruitment team to find another answer quickly.
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