West Ham United interested in signing Igor Jesus

West Ham United’s pursuit of a new striker has seen them reportedly consider Botafogo’s Igor Jesus, as their centre-forward options face instability due to Niclas Fullkrug’s fitness struggles and the potential exits of Michail Antonio and Danny Ings.

The Hammers, who spent heavily on Fullkrug in the summer, are now exploring fresh alternatives, with Igor Jesus emerging as a promising option. The Brazilian striker has regained top form since returning to Brazil from Shabab Al-Ahli, sparking interest from various Premier League clubs.

The intriguing twist in this story is the potential swap involving West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta. Paqueta, embroiled in a betting scandal that could lead to a lifetime ban from football, may be offloaded in January. Botafogo, keen on Paqueta’s return to Brazil, reportedly would entertain a swap deal for Jesus if Paqueta’s transfer circumvents the expected ban.

While West Ham may view this as a win-win — addressing their striker needs and offloading a potentially banned player — it presents a significant risk for Botafogo, who could lose out entirely should Paqueta’s ban be upheld.