West Ham United have certainly not shied away from raising the expectations surrounding their latest Premier League newbie, former Lazio striker Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos.
Hammers News reported all the way back in October that Nuno Espirito Santo wanted a striker in the building as early as possible.
West Ham United went one better. They got him two before the first week of 2026 had come and gone.
Pablo Felipe joined the Hammers on Friday in a deal worth around £17 million. The arrival of Taty Castellanos, for a further £27 million, means the Londoners have spent £44 million reshaping a frontline which found goals hard to come by in the first half of the campaign.
What are your EXPECTATIONS for Taty Castellanos? 🇦🇷
What does he need to do to justify that £27m price-tag?
Now, comparing Castellanos to one of the greatest modern-day icons in the club’s recent history is a dangerous game. Yet, one the Hammers seem happy to play as they roll the winter dice.
His official unveiling was chock-full of references to Carlos Tevez; the man who led that ‘Great Escape’ of 2007.
And it speaks to Castellanos’ self-confidence that Tevez’s extraordinary half-season at Upton Park 18 years ago is a benchmark he is keen to hit.
Taty Castellanos not shying away with Carlos Tevez comparisons at West Ham United
Say what you want about his record – only 16 goals in 75 Serie A matches for Lazio – the 27-year-old brings with him an iron-willed determination to pull off a Tevez-esque escape act, and the willingness to take such a burden on his shoulders.
Taty certainly talks a good game.
“I take on that responsibility [of emulating past Argentine icons]. The most important thing is to achieve all the goals here, training after training, day after day,” Castellanos tells the club’s official website.
“Obviously it was a dream of mine since I was a kid to be able to play in this league. I always watched it when I was little, I saw many Argentinian players like Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta… many high-level players who have played in this league and many are still here.
“So for me, it was a dream to be able to be here.
“Obviously, I want to continue this legacy of the players,” Castellanos adds when asked specifically about Tevez and West Ham’s other ex-Argentine stars, Zabaleta, Manuel Lanzini, Javier Mascherano and his current Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni.
“It would be wonderful. Working hard every day would be the most important thing.
“Obviously the players you mentioned are very well-known and very historic players here at West Ham. Obviously, it’s always good to have Argentinians in such historic teams as West Ham. So, well, I hope to be able to follow in their footsteps.”
Castellanos ‘very happy’ with how he has been welcomed at the London Stadium
Castellanos could make his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, alongside Pablo Felipe.
“I’m happy with the welcome. It’s definitely a challenge [but] I’m really happy because it’s a very important challenge for me personally and I’ve come to contribute, to try to help the team as much as I can,” adds the former New York City FC and Girona forward.
“I’m very happy.
How can Nuno FIX the potential absences of Todibo and Paqueta?
Pablo and Castellanos in? Earthy at 10? A start for Mayers?
“The guys have welcomed me really well, the coach and all. I want to bring that energy, that fighting spirit I have inside, so we can get results in this second round of Premier League matches. So, I hope I can help in any way I can with my experience, try to help the team stay at the top.”
Castellanos famously scored four goals against Real Madrid in one extraordinary La Liga match back in 2022/23. Over in Italy though, he made a reputation for himself as a scorer of great goals rather than a particularly great goalscorer.
Someone who makes the impossible look effortless, and the easy look difficult.
On the plus side, Castellanos did produce some of his better displays as part of a front-two at Lazio. Nuno may have the option of starting both he and Pablo together, although that may require Lucas Paqueta to be shunted out to the left-hand side.
At least Nuno has options now. To think, just a week ago, 33-year-old Callum Wilson was his only natural centre-forward.
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