West Ham have bolstered their attacking options by signing Brazilian forward Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente and agreeing a deal for Lazio striker Taty Castellanos, in a combined deal worth up to £47 million. The moves have been driven by manager Nuno Espírito Santo as he looks to strengthen his side's fight against relegation from the Premier League.
Pablo joins for an initial £18.3 million, with a further £2.6 million in potential add-ons. The 21-year-old, who will wear the number 19 shirt, said he aims to prove his worth after helping Gil Vicente to fourth place in the Primeira Liga with nine goals this season. However, there are concerns over whether he can replicate that form in England. Pablo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, also represents Nuno.
West Ham have also concluded negotiations with Lazio for a £26.1 million deal for Castellanos. The 27-year-old, who has scored twice in 12 Serie A appearances this season, is a more deep-lying forward. The club remain interested in a short-term deal for Fulham winger Adama Traoré but failed with a loan bid for Chelsea's Raheem Sterling, who is now a target for Fulham.
West Ham, who sit 18th in the table, are short of senior strikers after Niclas Füllkrug joined Milan on loan, leaving Callum Wilson as the only natural forward. A centre-back is also a priority, with Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell still under consideration. Meanwhile, the club are selling Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme to Sporting for £14.8 million, while James Ward-Prowse, George Earthy, Callum Marshall and Guido Rodríguez could also depart.
