As things stand, there is a chance that Pablo Felipe will forever be immortalised among the worst centre-forward signings in West Ham United’s modern history.
And considering the Hammers’ record with strikers, that is saying something.
Pablo Felipe did not score a single goal in his first 17 matches for West Ham United. This means that the £20 million acquisition from Gil Vicente is at risk of becoming the latest in a staggeringly long line of number nines who failed to even open their account in claret and blue.
What ADVICE would you give to Pablo Felipe?
17 games, zero goals…
A much-maligned selection which includes Simone Zaza, Marco Borriello, Jordan Hugill, Marco Boogers, Mido, Benni McCarthy, Albian Ajeti, Marouanne Chamakh and Mladen Petric; a combined fee of over £60 million and a combined tally of zero goals in 84 games.
He certainly did not make the same impact as West Ham United’s other January signing, Taty Castellanos. And in an ironic twist of fate, Rome-based publication Il Messaggero now claims that Pablo could potentially replace Castellanos at Lazio.
West Ham United flop Pablo Felipe is an option for Lazio
The Serie A outfit are looking for a striker to take the place of the all-action Argentine. Super-agent Jorge Mendes has offered Pablo to Lazio as a result.
The Hammers should not expect any speedy movement from the baby-blue corner of the Stadio Olimpico, though.
A day before Daniel Kretinsky confirmed plans to become West Ham’s largest shareholder, Lazio released an official statement of their own. One which stated that the Biancocelesti cannot spend on new signings without first raising funds via player sales.
“As of July 1st, [Lazio] may only make incoming transactions that are offset by outgoings of equal value,” Gazzetta dello Sport explain. “In other words, they could invest in acquisitions only as much as they earn from sales.”
Lazio cannot sign Pablo until they raise funds
What STOOD OUT to you in Daniel Kretinsky’s statement?
The 'Czech Sphinx' has big ambitions…
If Lazio are told to pay £20 million by West Ham, then, the only way such a bid could be lodged is if the Biancocelesti sell an existing member of Gennaro Gattuso’s squad for the same fee.
It is your classic ‘sell before you buy’ situation, but in the most literal sense.
While there is an argument to suggest Pablo could be a man reborn at West Ham with a full pre-season under his belt, a large section of Hammers News’ TalkingPoint users feel the damage to the Braga-born striker’s reputation cannot be undone.
Hammers News have also been told that Pablo is waiting to see if any Premier League offers present themselves before he decides on a potential switch to the Italian capital.
Hey, you cannot knock his ambition. But his Premier League quality? That is another matter entirely.
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