West Ham United’s nightmare campaign shows little sign of easing. Tuesday night’s 2–1 defeat to Nottingham Forest extended their winless run to 10 matches and left them rooted in the relegation zone, with survival looking increasingly uncertain.
While the January arrivals of Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos have at least addressed the lack of firepower up front, the Hammers’ problems run far deeper.
Defensive fragility continues to undermine any progress, and if Nuno Espírito Santo is to drag his side out of trouble, further reinforcements look unavoidable.
Now, a potential third January addition could be on the club’s radar.
West Ham ‘In Talks’ for Leo Pereira
Flamengo’s Leo Pereira. (REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani)
West Ham have reportedly opened discussions over a move for Flamengo centre-back Leo Pereira as they search for defensive stability.
With the Hammers now seven points adrift of safety, shoring up the back line has become a priority for Nuno Espírito Santo, and the experienced Brazilian has emerged as a possible option.
Pereira, 29, has been a mainstay for Flamengo since joining the club permanently in January 2020, following a short loan spell with Major League Soccer side Orlando City. Since then, he has racked up around 280 appearances for the Rio de Janeiro giants, establishing himself as one of their most reliable defenders.
The centre-back enjoyed a standout 2025 campaign, helping Flamengo lift the Brasileirão title while also contributing six goals and an assist — an impressive return for a defender.
According to Bolavip Brasil, West Ham have made contact with Flamengo to explore a deal for Pereira, though they are not alone in their interest, with Mexican outfit Cruz Azul also monitoring the situation.
Any move, however, would be far from straightforward. Flamengo are said to be reluctant to sanction his departure in January, with the Brazilian champions keen to keep the core of their title-winning squad intact ahead of the 2026 season.
That said, football has a habit of changing quickly — and for a Brazilian club, a substantial offer from the Premier League could yet prove difficult to turn down if West Ham decide to push hard enough.