According to a detailed report from Globo Deportivo , West Ham United have encountered serious obstacles in their efforts to add firepower to the front line. The hurdle emerged after Cruzeiro rejected a €25m bid for star striker Keio Jorge.
The Legend of Cao Jorge:
The Hammers initially made the big-money deal a loan move, which later became a permanent transfer. However, despite the huge investment from the English side, the Brazilian club refused to budge. To be precise, the offer includes the immediate payment of €4 million in loan fees. The remainder consists of €21 million in commitments, with performance targets to be reflected in the final payment.
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Cruzeiro’s rejection did disrupt the east London side’s recruitment plans. They are struggling to find a shooter who can deliver before the January window closes. West Ham have been chasing the former Juventus man since late summer.
Even so, the 23-year-old’s current best form makes him an expensive and hard-to-find target. On top of that, the forward scored 35 goals in the 2025 season. This performance pushed up his price and even attracted the attention of Aston Villa.
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 23: Cruzeiro’s Caio Jorge (centre) shoots past Corinthians’ Joao Pedro (left) and Felipe Longo (right) during the match between Cruzeiro and Coritian as part of the 2025 Brazil World Cup at the Mineiro Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Villela/Getty Images)
The player is currently clinging to a future in South America despite the impact of the Premier League. He really wants to play in next year’s Copa Libertadores. Additionally, the Brazilian believes that staying in the spotlight in Brazil will give him a better chance of earning a spot.
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He hopes to be selected for Ancelotti’s Brazil team for the next World Cup. With Cruzeiro adamant that they will not sell their best player at this price, West Ham must face reality. They may not be able to get a deal done for Jorge now.
Is this a major setback for West Ham?
This is a huge blow as the Hammers really need someone to replace Niklas Forkrug who may be leaving. They are still looking at other options, such as Joshua Zirkzee. Still, they missed a striker who had already scored and taken the lead. The failure left the recruiting team scrambling to find another answer as quickly as possible.