According to The Pitch Prospect, West Ham are close to completing a deal to sign Gil Vicente striker Pablo.
The Hammers have agreed on a transfer fee of 21 million euros [£18.3m] plus €3 million [£2.6m] in additions to bring the 21-year-old to the London Stadium.
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The Portuguese youngster is currently undergoing a medical ahead of his planned move.
He is set to be Nuno Espirito Santo’s first addition as West Ham manager since he took over from Graham Potter in September.
It was only in June that Pablo signed a permanent contract with Gil Vicente.
He spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, where he scored five goals in 23 games in all competitions.
But this season he has been successful for Cesar Peixoto’s side, finding the net 10 times in 13 Primeira Liga games.
Only three players in Portugal’s top flight have scored more goals than Pablo, who guided Gil Vicente to fourth place in the table.
Hammer time
His performances have sufficiently convinced West Ham that he could be the right man to lead their line in the future.
Skipper Jarrod Bowen – a natural right winger – has been deployed up front in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Callum Wilson – on a free transfer last summer – has started just once in West Ham’s last five Premier League games.
A new striker was seen as a necessity for the East London outfit in January, with Niclas Fullkrug initially set to move to AC Milan on loan.
And they could be ready to bring in another player as The Pitch Prospect understands talks are progressing to secure the services of Lazio centre-forward Taty Castellanos.
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The 23-year-old has been in the Lazio squad since 2023, where he scored 22 goals in 98 games across all competitions.
Two of these goals came in eleven appearances in Serie A this season.
The two-time Argentina international is also a former MLS Cup winner and scored 23 goals in New York City’s victorious 2021 season.
It remains to be seen whether Pablo’s impending arrival and Castellanos negotiations will impact West Ham’s interest in Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen.
One possible West Ham signing that won’t happen is the transfer of Eddie Nketiah from Crystal Palace.
It is believed West Ham were hoping for the ex-Arsenal man, but the two-time FA Cup winner picked up a hamstring injury.
However, West Ham are expected to sign Fulham winger Adama Traore on an initial six-month contract.
Nuno was one of the frontrunners in signing his former Wolves star, whose contract expires in the summer.
He had already tried to get Traore to do it Nottingham Forest in the summer when he managed the City Ground.
The 29-year-old has made 16 appearances for Fulham this season, contributing just one assist.
West Ham know they need to strengthen their squad this season to avoid their first relegation to the Championship since the 2010/11 season.
They currently sit in 18th place – four points from safety – ahead of Saturday’s game against rock-bottom Wolves.