West Ham are in talks with Palmeiras over a deal to buy the 18-year-old attacker Luis Guilherme. The Brazil Under-20 international is valued by his club at about £25m. Guilherme, who plays mainly on the right but can also operate on the left or as an attacking central midfielder, has made 17 appearances for Palmeiras since the turn of the year. On Thursday he played the full Copa Libertadores game against the Argentinian club San Lorenzo. Guilherme has been identified by West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, as a target. Steidten is working with the new head coach, Julen Lopetegui, to strengthen the squad in several positions, including centre-back. West Ham agreed an initial £12.5m fee this week to buy the central defender Fabrício Bruno from another Brazilian club, Flamengo, but that move is in danger of breaking down over personal terms and interest from Saudi Arabia.