West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has made a surprise move for Brazilian defender Caio Henrique, according to reports. The 27-year-old left-back, who plays for Monaco, has been capped by Brazil and possesses excellent technical ability and dribbling skills.

Lopetegui’s interest in Henrique suggests he is not satisfied with his current left-back options, including Emerson Palmieri, who has been linked with a move away. The West Ham boss has already been brutally honest with his players, criticizing their defending in pre-season.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague warned West Ham fans that Lopetegui has a ruthless streak, saying he “does not suffer fools” in getting his teams where he wants them to be.

Lopetegui has identified West Ham’s porous defence as his top priority, and the signing of Henrique would be a significant step in addressing this issue. However, the move is not without risk, as Henrique has only recently returned from a year out of football following an ACL injury.