West Ham United seem to have all but finalised a move for a key south American target…

What’s the latest?

As per Goal Brasil (via Sport Witness), Sao Paulo centre-back Luizao has reportedly already signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Hammers at the end of January.

Even though they hold long-term interest, they will have to wait until his contract ends to fully welcome him to east London.

Despite the notion that he will arrive on a free, the Brazilian outfit were demanding €10m (£8.6m) only back in October. It makes this even more of a coup than was first thought.

Dawson heir

With Craig Dawson’s move in the summer having collapsed, it seems all but certain that this January will finally see him exit the London Stadium.

Despite arriving as an unassuming loan deal from Watford, the 32-year-old stalwart became a key figure in east London, announcing himself as a mainstay at the back for David Moyes.

His absence will be felt heavily, but few fans would stand in the way of someone who very quickly captured the fans' attention.

The arrival of Luizao might ease this sadness, however, as they welcome his successor in the form of a 20-year-old who comes highly rated from his homeland.

With just 20 senior appearances to his name, the central defensive titan stands at 6 foot 1 and would more than replicate the physical presence held by Dawson.

Not only this, but his ability on the ball has also seen Jorge Nicola label him “super confident”, explaining why he truly believes he is good enough to make the step up straight into Premier League football.

Despite his youth, an average SofaScore rating of 6.79 marks a solid return in what is his true breakout year.

He is averaging a mammoth 3.8 clearances per game, which even outperforms the 3.0 that his English predecessor has offered this campaign.

Boasting the physicality and core defensive principles that have already seen him succeed in Brazil, under Moyes this could be quickly translated into tangible success at the highest level.