Lucas Paquetá if he gets his way will be leaving the Hammers in this transfer window: Remembering that the Brazil transfer market operates to different dates and does not close until March means there is still some way to go, you’d suspect, in this saga of Nuno’s favourite ‘number 10’ who doesn’t want to play for West Ham anymore.

News today of another possible Brazil – bound player which, if true really could spark a full-on defender crisis at London Stadium: The on-loan Igor Julio, the so-called ‘fourth man’ amongst West Ham’s centre back options, largely unwanted and unused by Nuno, could be recalled and sold by Brighton as he’s in demand from across the Atlantic.

According to Sportwitness,

“Brighton & Hove Albion are seeing fresh interest from Brazil, and this time Palmeiras is the club asking questions about Igor Julio. The defender belongs to Brighton and is currently on loan at West Ham until June 2026. But that spell is not going as planned. Minutes have been limited, and the situation has left the player keen for more regular football, which is now shaping the discussion around his future.

So far, Palmeiras have not gone directly to Brighton....