£17m West Ham transfer is giving 'Dimitri Payet feels' - it's an 'absolute coup' | OneFootball

FLW's West Ham fan pundit has given his verdict on the possible signing of Gustavo Sa

West Ham are looking for replacements to Mateus Fernandes following his switch to Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder has moved to the Hammers’ London rivals after the two teams agreed on an £85 million transfer.

Nuno Espírito Santo will be keen to bolster his midfield options for life in the Championship following the club’s relegation to the second tier.

The Portuguese coach is back with the first team squad in pre-season, with the team preparing for a promotion push in the coming year.

One player that has been linked with a possible move to the London Stadium is Famalicao’s Gustavo Sa.

It’s been reported that an agreement of around £17 million has been reached, with a move now imminent.

Gustavo Sa signing would be a real coup for West Ham

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When asked about the potential signing of Sa, FLW’s West Ham fan pundit Ryan Horn has claimed that this would be a real coup based on footage he’s seen of the 21-year-old.

He compared the Portuguese playmaker to fan favourite Dimitri Payet, who stunned fans with his impressive skill and attacking threat during his time with the club from 2015 to 2017.

“The fact we sold Fernandes for what we wanted, and we’ve gone out and possibly got a replacement for him very quick on, and for decent money, and the fact he’s young and is already a captain,” Horn told Football League World.

“Yes, I’ve done the thing that all football fans do and looked at highlights, even though you shouldn’t because you can’t base a player just off their highlights.

“I think if we manage to get him, that’s an absolute coup.

“What a player.

“He gives me Payet feels.

“It’s not a comparison that I use lightly.”

Horn has been impressed by the way Sa moves around the pitch, and is excited by what this potential signing means for the future of recruitment under Nils Koppen.

“He seems to just glide, and just do everything effortlessly from what I’ve seen,” he added.

“So the prospect of him joining West Ham in the Championship, I think that would give him a good platform to see how he does in the English game before hopefully jumping back up to the Prem.

“I honestly can’t wait, if it is true.

“The prospect of him being here, I think it really shows the new direction that the club is going in when it comes to transfers, and going for these talents in other leagues.”

Fernandes signed for West Ham in the 2025 summer transfer window from Southampton in a deal worth £38 million, but their relegation ultimately led to his departure to Spurs.

Sa has come through the academy system at Famalico to become a key part of their first team squad in the last three campaigns.

He’s made a total of 108 appearances in the Primeira Liga, contributing 11 goals and 13 assists, with Famalicao earning a fifth place finish in 2025/26.

However, a move to English football could now be on the cards amid these links to West Ham.

The Hammers have yet to seal their first signing of the summer, but a replacement for Fernandes will now be high on their priority list.

Sa has earned a lot of plaudits for his performances in Portugal, and has been capped 14 times at U21 level for the country.

Koppen has arrived as the new head of recruitment at West Ham following Daniel Kretinsky’s move to become the new majority shareholder of the club.

He will work closely alongside Espirito Santo to conclude the team’s transfer business before the market shuts on 1 September.

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Dimitri Payet comparison is high praise for Gustavo Sa

Payet was sensational for West Ham in 2015/16, and helped them send off Upton Park in style with a seventh place finish in the league.

While his second season was underwhelming in comparison, he remains a fan favourite for the Hammers, so any signing that could emulate that would go down very well.

Sa coming in for a fraction of the fee earned in the sale of Fernandes could also be impressive business, although there are still no guarantees he will be able to have the same impact.

The playmaker is also still only 21, so he has the potential to become very valuable in the long run if he does hit the same heights as his compatriot.