Former Gil Vicente winger Felix Correia cannot speak highly enough of the Premier League-bound Pablo as West Ham United close in on a £17.5 million deal for the Portuguese hotshot.
Correia became the joint-biggest sale in Gil Vicente’s history last summer when he moved to France with LOSC Lille. A record his old teammate is about to blow out ofthe water.
Because, as Niclas Fullkrug prepares to make his AC Milan debut away to Cagliari on Friday night, Pablo looks destined to become the German’s West Ham United replacement for a fee in the region of £17.5 million.
According to club insider ExWHUEmployee, Pablo has arrived in London to undergo a medical.
The Braga-born 21-year-old will likely have to wait until that midweek clash with Nottingham Forest to make his first appearance in claret and blue, though, with the 12pm registration deadline having come and gone ahead of Saturday’s must-win trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Pablo looks set to be West Ham’s first signing of January…💪
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Correia played alongside Pablo as he netted five Primeira Liga goals in 20 appearances last season.
Flash forward to January 2nd, halfway through the 2025/26 campaign, and the in-form centre-forward has already doubled his tally from the previous campaign.
Felix Correia hails ‘exceptional’ Pablo as West Ham United close in
Speaking to A Bola, one-time Manchester City and Juventus kid Correia insists that Pablo’s potential was already clear to see. But with his self-confidence soaring and his experience growing by the game, West Ham are set to land themselves a centre-forward on the up.
For all the wrongs of that Fullkrug transfer – £27 million spent on a 30-something number nine – Pablo’s impending arrival perhaps reflects the greater focus the club are now putting on signing young up-and-comers with fewer miles on the clock.
“Even last year, he was already exceptional,” Correia says of Pablo. “Now, I have much more faith in him.
“When we talked, I always told him he was extraordinary! He just needed to believe in himself a little more.”
Correia also feels that Pablo has been invigorated by the faith shown in him by Gil Vicente. A club sitting fourth in the Primeira Liga table, behind only Porto, Sporting and Benfica, signed him permanently over the summer after striking an initial loan deal with Famalicao.
“This season, they’ve given him a different role. It’s his second year, he’s been bought by the club, and the confidence and stability is different,” Correia explains.
“Pablo is [Gil Vicente’s] star player.”
Gil Vicente coach thinks Pablo’s pace will help in the Premier League
Head coach Cesar Peixoto all-but confirmed Pablo’s departure during a press conference on Thursday.
While a prolific track-record in the Portuguese top-flight is no guarantee of success in England – see Darwin Nunez and latterly Viktor Gyokeres – Peixoto feels that Pablo’s mobility is something which will help him adapt to life in his new home.
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“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.”
Interestingly, West Ham shifted towards Pablo and Castellanos after Wolves put a £45 million price-tag on Jorgen Strand Larsen’s head.
Making the trip to Molineux this weekend, the Hammers will be hoping this is a decision which does not immediately blow up in their faces.
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