Not only do West Ham United<\/a> have the division\u2019s worst defensive record \u2013 conceding 13 times in five matches \u2013 only Aston Villa have scored fewer than their tally of three Premier League goals.<\/p>\n No wonder some fans are demanding Callum Marshall get a look in<\/a>. Three goals in a week for the 20-year-old in Mark Robson\u2019s reserves.<\/p>\n But could a solution be arriving, not from the academy, but from Brazil?<\/p>\n RTI Esporte<\/a> reported this week that West Ham are keeping a very close eye on Cruzeiro hitman Kaio Jorge. Not only that, the Hammers have allegedly made it clear already that they are willing to spend \u00a322 million giving the one-time Juventus starlet a second shot at European football.<\/p>\n Like another Brazilian linked heavily with a move to the London Stadium \u2013 Corinthians talisman Yuri Alberto eventually rebuffed West Ham\u2019s advances<\/a> after picking up a back injury over the summer \u2013 Kaio Jorge may feel he has unfinished business this side of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n While Alberto had a brief spell in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg, Kaio Jorge played nine Serie A matches for Juventus without scoring a goal in 2021\/22.<\/p>\n Yet, when asked about West Ham\u2019s reported interest, a 23-year-old who made his Brazil debut as Lucas Paqueta<\/a> scored in this month\u2019s 3-0 win over Chile told Caze TV<\/a> that he still has a lot left to achieve at his current employers.<\/p>\n \u201cI really want to stay at Cruzeiro,\u201d says Kaio Jorge, perhaps a classic case of \u2018once bitten, twice shy\u2019 regarding European action, via via Radio Itatiaia<\/a>. \u201cEveryone knows that, that I\u2019m very happy here. <\/p>\n \u201cRight now, I\u2019m not thinking about going abroad, despite the speculation. An offer should come in soon, but I hope to stay here for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n After coming through the ranks at Santos, Kaio Jorge spent three years in Italy. But while failing to make the grade at Juventus, he also scored only three times on loan at Frosinone, necessitating his return to Brazil.<\/p>\n But with 20 goals and six assists from his last 34 Cruzeiro appearances, the speculation is an inevitable by-product of his outstanding return to form.<\/p>\n Owner Pedro Lourenco, though, is on the same page as his one-time Under-17 World Cup winner.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are calm. He has a contract until 2028,\u201d Lourenco explains. \u201cWe\u2019ll only talk next year [about an extension but with regards to his future] we are calm.\u201d<\/p>\n Kaio Jorge and Emmanuel Emegha out but Callum Marshall is impressing<\/p>\n So, before the January window has even entered the minds of many supporters, West Ham may have already seen their striker plans take an early blow.<\/p>\n![\"West](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2226642393-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Pedro Vilela\/Getty ImagesCruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge responds to West Ham United rumours<\/p>\n