Could January 2026 be the month when West Ham United finally end their striker ‘curse’? With Pablo and Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos heading to the Premier League for over £40 million combined, they will certainly be hoping so.
Nuno Espirito Santo made a striker a priority immediately after taking charge at the London Stadium in September.
Only one day into 2026, and West Ham United are set to sign not one but two number nines in the blinking of an eye.
Nuno, who has taken a great deal of control over recruitment alongside agent Jorge Mendes, certainly cannot say his demands have not been answered, even if doubts remain about whether a relatively unknown centre-forward from Gil Vicente or an inconsistent Argentine from Lazio can turn dreams of survival into reality.
Pablo looks set to be West Ham’s first signing of January…💪
What are YOUR thoughts on this deal?
West Ham are close to signing Pablo for around £17.5 million. As Luis Guilherme prepares to join Sporting Lisbon, the winger might just pass Pablo in the airport terminal as one arrives in Portugal and the other jets in via the opposite direction.
West Ham can expect to sign Taty Castellanos from Serie A giants Lazio for a further £27 million. In the blink of an eye, Nuno will go from having only a 33-year-old Callum Wilson at his disposal to three centre-forwards competing for one spot in his starting XI.
Gil Vicente coach Cesar Peixoto speaks out on West Ham United-bound Pablo
With Lazio resuming their campaign against Scudetto holders Napoli on Sunday, keep your eyes peeled for any announcements out of Rome. Over in Iberia, Gil Vicente head coach Cesar Peixoto is ready to bid farewell to his own London-bound poacher.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Peixoto all-but confirmed Pablo’s impending departure.
The coach is also confident that a 21-year-old prospect with ten goals in 13 Primeira Liga matches this season will fare better than some of West Ham’s other striker signings from outside the UK.
“I’m not the one to announce this kind of situation. What I can say is that Pablo didn’t train [with the Gil Vicente squad on Thursday],” Peixoto told reporters. “And things are being handled between the clubs.
“If [the transfer] materialises, we will be happy and proud because he is a player who grew up with us and is part of Gil Vicente’s project to develop the team.
“We wish him the best of luck.”
The Braga-born Pablo only joined Gil Vicente permanently in June, having spent last season on loan at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos from Famalicao.
“Pablo has become a very complete player,” Peixoto adds. “He’s strong in supporting the attack, in attacking the box, and works very hard for the team.
He has a lot of pace for the Premier League.”
Lazio striker Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos will follow Pablo to England
Castellanos would be a big upgrade over Callum Wilson!
There is still a chance that Pablo could be included in West Ham’s squad for the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. However, in order for that to happen, he will have to complete his medical and his registration before the 12pm cut-off point today.
Pablo will, for all intents and purposes, replace Niclas Fullkrug in Nuno’s roster.
Castellanos, who has reportedly been on West Ham’s radar since his MLS days with New York City FC, will be tasked with providing further firepower to a side who have scored only 21 goals in 19 Premier League matches this season.
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