West Ham 'in talks' to sell £25m star signed by Julen Lopetegui in ruthless transfer strategy

West Ham are reportedly looking to sell Luis Guilherme to a Saudi Arabian side this January, just six months after the club paid £25 million to sign him from Palmeiras, in what would be a ruthless piece of transfer business under new manager Graham Potter.

The Times reports that the club wants to 'cut losses' with the forward and are 'in talks' to broker a transfer exit with money wanted for signings elsewhere. The 18-year-old has made just five appearances for the side, picking up a total of 43 minutes.

Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah are the two clubs said to be interested in the youngster. West Ham are short of attacking options with injuries to Niclas Fullkrug, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen but Potter fielded Carlos Soler on the left against Fulham rather than turn to Guilherme.

Julen Lopetegui praise for Luis Guilherme

Guilherme had been touted to win more minutes after Bowen suffered a fractured foot. Speaking at the start of January, former Hammers boss Lopetegui praised the player's 'very good' mentality and backed him to make an impact at the London Stadium.

Lopetegui said: "Step by step he's more ready to help us and he's going to take advantage of his opportunity. I have the feeling that, with time, he's going to become a very good player for the Premier League.

"He has one very, very good thing: his mentality. He's a hard worker. He's a very humble boy and a very smart boy. He wants to improve. That's why I think that he's going to have a good future.

"I would like that his future is as soon as possible because we want to take advantage of him. I have a good opinion about the future because of his condition, physical, technical and his mentality. Mentality is key in all the players. If you have the right mentality, you are able to survive in the Premier League."

Tim Steidten on Palmeiras transfer

Guilherme signed a five-year deal when joining West Ham last summer in a move that saw technical director Tim Steidten fly to Brazil to push the deal over the line. The winger was announced as a West Ham player with much fanfare.

Steidten said: “We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player. He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time, and once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.

“Luis has enjoyed a fantastic start to his professional career with Palmeiras – naturally a wide player but with the flexibility to play across other attacking positions, which is an important and valuable factor in the modern game.

“He is technically very gifted, but also has very good physical qualities - great pace, strength and stamina, and these are traits that will help him to adapt to the demands of the Premier League and English football. “Luis is obviously still very young, but we have no doubt that he is ready to make an impact in the first team here. He is coming to a great environment, where he will be surrounded by other exciting young players and good people who will support him every step of the way.

“We will look after him, help him and his family to settle in and allow him time to adapt. But we are very excited about his immediate potential and are looking forward to seeing the progress he can make at West Ham United."