Cardozo is in high demand and the Hammers could be scuppered.
Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo has been in high demand this summer with Olympique Lyon, West Ham United and Zenit St Petersburg in for the Paraguayan, but Barcelona could scupper everyone, according to talkSPORT.
The Hammers were hoping to complete an unbelievable coup for the striker with Cardozo being recognised as one of the most prolific forwards in Europe over the past few years.
With Ricardo Vaz Te handing in a transfer request at Upton Park, manager Sam Allardyce is looking to bring in another attacker to challenge Andy Carroll and Modibo Maiga.
Initially the Irons had been targeting Fabio Quagliarella of Juventus, but Arsenal are now leading the race for the Italian and therefore Allardyce upped the pursuit of Cardozo.
It would be a strange choice if the 30-year-old left the Estadio da Luz for east London though, as Benfica have Champions League football once more this year and reached the Europa League final last term.
Also, if Barca are in the chase then West Ham may as well give up hope as the Catalans are one of the top teams on the continent.
Having sold David Villa to Atletico Madrid this summer, new head coach Gerardo Martino wants to add another striking option to an already impressive forward line.
With 154 goals in 255 matches for the Portuguese club to date, Cardozo has shown that the South American can cut it at the top and many expected the Paraguay international would have moved one sooner.
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