West Ham United have submitted a formal offer to sign Brazilian defensive midfielder Martinelli from Fluminense, according to Ekrem Konur.
The defensive midfielder developed through the academy at Fluminense and has been a regular for the side since making his debut on 1 December 2020 in a 0–0 draw against Red Bull Bragantino in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Since that breakthrough, he has accumulated 310 appearances for the Tricolor, scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists.
He delivered standout performances during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, playing a key role in their run to the semi-finals, where Chelsea beat them. He was also part of the side that produced one of the tournament’s biggest shocks, defeating Inter Milan 2–0, and he opened the scoring in the 2–1 quarter-final victory over Al-Hilal.
A call-up to the FIFA World Cup could be on the horizon for the 24-year-old, with Carlo Ancelotti present at Maracanã Stadium during Fluminense’s 2–1 win over Grêmio FBPA in January, where he delivered an impressive display.
Several clubs have reportedly expressed interest in the Brazilian, but it appears West Ham are set to steal a march on their rivals in the race to sign him.
This is according to Ekrem Konur, who claims that the East London outfit have submitted a formal offer for Martinelli’s potential transfer to the London Stadium.
Martinelli to West Ham
However, the bid is considered less than the £17m valuation set by Fluminense, who are resolved to recouping the full fee to sanction his departure, according to the journalist.
While it is unclear if the Hammers will return with another offer, Konur adds that other clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Benfica, have also expressed interest in the combative midfielder.
West Ham currently have Soungoutou Magassa, Tomáš Souček, Freddie Potts, and Mateus Fernandes as midfield options, with Nuno Espírito Santo favouring Souček and Fernandes as his preferred pairing.
Meanwhile, Potts — despite impressing when given opportunities — still requires further development, while Magassa has struggled to deliver consistent performances.
Given that, a move for Martinelli would be a logical step, with a £17m fee representing strong value compared to previous signings and offering a ready-made replacement for Souček, who is not expected to remain at the club beyond the current deal.
