West Ham sent scouts to watch the Portuguese league match between Belenenses and Maritimo on Sunday, according to Scouts in Attendance.
The reliable Twitter account, who document which clubs are watching which other teams, the Irons had a member of staff present for Maritimo’s 1-0 win, alongside scouts from Celta Vigo, Real Valladolid, and TSG Hoffenheim.
#whufc #celta #tsg #Valladolid scouts watched Belenenses 0-1 Maritimo on Sun….would imagine 18yo Maritimo MF Pedro Pelagio caught the eye, especially as West Ham have signed a couple of Portugal U19s in the past few years pic.twitter.com/SakIW6HnM7
— Scouts in Attendance (@scoutsattending) February 18, 2019
It is stated that 18-year-old central midfielder Pelagio was the stand out performer in the clash, with the Portuguese youth international having made the step up to senior football earlier this season.
West Ham have already signed two Portuguese U19 players recently with Xande Silva and Mesaque Dju both completing moves to east London.
OPINION
It is probably way too early to read too much into this, but if the report is true, then it is a promising sign for West Ham fans that their club is going all out to bring in the best young talent form the continent. Xande Silva already looks like a real player and hopes are high for Mesaque Dju. Pedro Pelagio is literally a breakout star of this season, having only made his first league start yesterday, but he has good pedigree and is a recognised youth international who could have a massive future ahead of him. Even if nothing comes of this latest scouting mission, it shows that West Ham have good intent when it comes to stealing a march on their rivals in the transfer market, and that would suggest that the club have turned a corner with regards to their scouting efforts. Fans will be hoping that this is the first of many reports of this ilk.