West Ham ‘are planning a move for Red Bull Bragantino defender Leo Ortiz in a deal worth around £8m’… but they may face competition from Italian clubs for the Brazilian centre back
- West Ham are planning to move for Red Bull Bragantino defender Leo Ortiz
- Centre-half Ortiz, 26, has been a regular in Brazil’s squad since last summer
- However, he is yet to feature and is hoping a move to Europe can change that
- Ortiz is under contract until 2026 and has featured 164 times, scoring nine
West Ham are plotting a move for Brazilian defender Léo Ortiz from Red Bull Bragantino.
The 26-year old centre-half has been a regular in the Brazil squad since the Copa America tournament last summer.
He has yet to make his international debut but feels a transfer to a major European league could help his ambition to win a place in Tite’s squad for the World Cup.
Leo Ortiz has played 164 games for Red Bull Bragantino since joing from Internacional in 2019
Ortiz is captain of Red Bull Bragantino
Ortiz is under contract at Bragantino until 2026, having signed a renewal in March, but, according to GloboEsporte.com, the Sao Paulo-based club are prepared to sell for a fee in the region of £8million.
There is also interest from Italy.
West Ham are currently gathering information on the player and in talks with his agent, Paulo Pitombeira.
Ortiz is the captain of Bragantino and has been central to the club’s most recent achievements.
He has played 164 games and scored nine goals since 2019, when he joined from Internacional.
Other stars from the club have already left for Europe, such as Claidinho, who left for Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg for £10.8m in June 2021.
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