A section of West Ham fans have been reacting on Twitter after it was claimed that the club is closing in on the signing of Corinthians defender Fabian Balbuena.
TYC Sports and Super Deportivo journalist Cesar Luis Merlo reported on his personal Instagram and Twitter account on Friday that the Hammers have agreed a fee with the Brazilian giants to sign Balbuena, 26, this summer, with the defender set to sign a four-year deal at the London Stadium.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk5hYV6gtP9/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=mg67iqyy38fs
Some West Ham fans have been left a bit surprised by this latest transfer report, with most of them not seeming to have a clue who the Paraguay international is.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
Looks like we are signing Balbuena. Paraguayan centre back from Corinthians.
Not a scooby who he is but as always excited about a new signing ? #COYI https://t.co/tdjZmMiH1w
— West Ham Stuff ? (@WestHamStuff) July 7, 2018
Great player, great sign (if it's true).
— Ribeiro-Santos (@west_hambr) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/LouieWansell82/status/1015353807235158016
https://twitter.com/Supagrova1973/status/1015353267306496000
This must be a David Sullivan signing he loves a South American
— rhys (@rhysie88) July 6, 2018
Do like a random signing from the South American region. Completely unknown entity, some risks pay off and some don't. Hope to see him announced soon. #Balbuena
— West Ham Stuff ? (@WestHamStuff) July 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/whputman21/status/1015371121573711874
OPINION
Balbuena is very much and unknown entity in these shores, but that does not mean that he will not be a very good signing. If there is anyone you can trust to pick up talent South America, it’s West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini. The Chilean will know everything there is to know about Balbuena and Hammers fans should be excited about what the centre-back can do for the club if he is to sign. According to these claims coming out of South American, the deal is almost done and that may be the final piece in the jigsaw for Pellegrini’s revamp of the defence. He needs to set his sights on a striker and a new attacking midfielder next.