West Ham have enquired about the availability of Zenit midfielder Wendel this summer, but may have already missed the boat for his signature.
The Brazilian is seeking a move away from Russia after FIFA and UEFA banned Russian clubs from competing in continental competitions.
And now, Brazilian news outlet Globo has reported that West Ham have made contact over a potential deal to bring him to the Premier League, while Arsenal are also thought to have made similar inquiries.
However, the report does suggest Flamengo are confident of winning the race for the midfielder’s services.
Wendel, 24, joined Zenit in a £17m deal in 2021, after helping Sporting win the Portuguese title. He then went on to lift the Russian Premier League but, despite having three years remaining on his Gazprom Arena contract, it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will player another game on Russian soil.
West Ham have been scouring the market for midfield reinforcements this summer and have already signed Swansea City’s Flynn Downes, but Moyes appears eager to continue bolstering that area of his squad amid these reports of interest in Wendel and emerging news of a third bid to sign Lille’s Amadou Onana.
