West Ham United will reportedly look to beat stiff competition to sign 20-year-old Portuguese defender Tiago Gabriel from Serie A club US Lecce.

According to a report by Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Tiago Gabriel is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back next year. So, the 20-year-old US Lecce defensive prospect has emerged as a target for the East London outfit.

The Hammers have submitted a bid worth €18 million to sign the Cascais native from the Serie A club. However, US Lecce will demand around €25 million to part ways with Gabriel next summer. Additionally, West Ham will face stiff competition from several Serie A clubs, including Atalanta, AS Roma, and Inter Milan.

Tiago Gabriel has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Serie A since joining US Lecce Estrela Amadora earlier this year. The Cascais native spent his formative years in Portugal, passing through the academies at Sporting CP and Vitoria Setubal before graduating from the youth division at Estrela Amadora.

The 20-year-old has made 15 appearances thus far for US Lecce, with most of those outings coming in the 2025/26 season. Meanwhile, the Portuguese defensive prospect’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. West Ham United will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.

West Ham United’s interest in Tiago Gabriel is understandable. The Hammers are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the two transfer windows next year.