West Ham United have signalled their intent to survive a tense Premier League relegation battle by launching a major January spending spree, with two new strikers set to arrive for a combined fee that could reach £47 million.
Double Striker Deal to Bolster Attack
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is prioritising firepower to lift the Hammers out of the bottom three. The club is on the verge of completing a double deal for forwards Pablo Felipe and Valentin "Taty" Castellanos.
The first signing, 21-year-old Brazilian Pablo Felipe, is joining from Portuguese side Gil Vicente in a transfer worth approximately £18.3 million plus add-ons. Felipe has been in prolific form this season, scoring nine goals in just 12 Primeira Liga appearances. A medical has been completed, though it remains unclear if his registration will be processed in time for the upcoming match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Simultaneously, West Ham have reached an agreement with Serie A's Lazio for Argentine striker Taty Castellanos. The 27-year-old, formerly of New York City FC, is set to move to the London Stadium for a fee in the region of £25 million and has already agreed to a four-year contract, pending final confirmation.
Outgoings Fund Incoming Flurry
To help finance these significant arrivals, the Hammers have sanctioned several departures. Teenage winger Luis Guilherme is set to join Sporting CP for around £17.4 million after a difficult adaptation period in East London. The young Brazilian has travelled for his medical.
Furthermore, German striker Niclas Füllkrug is poised to end his injury-disrupted spell at the club by joining AC Milan on a six-month loan deal.
Further Business as Deadline Looms
West Ham's activity is not confined to their forward line. The club is also pushing to secure a short-term deal for Adama Traoré. The Fulham winger, out of contract this summer, is a target for Nuno, who is keen to reunite with the Spaniard after their successful spell together at Wolves.
An ambitious loan move for Chelsea's Raheem Sterling was swiftly rebuffed by the player himself, who reportedly does not view the switch as the right career move at this stage and would prefer a permanent transfer.
With attacking reinforcements now secured, attention has turned to shoring up a leaky defence. Charlie Cresswell, the Toulouse centre-back, has emerged as a primary target as the board responds to fan pressure to strengthen at the back before the window closes.
A Strategic Shift Under Pressure
This sudden and decisive flurry of deals marks a significant change in West Ham's typical transfer strategy, showing a clear urgency to act early in the window rather than at the last minute. The driving force behind this is the club's precarious league position, sitting 18th in the Premier League table and deep in a relegation dogfight.
Despite the poor run of form, the West Ham hierarchy is firmly backing manager Nuno Espirito Santo with substantial investment this month. These signings are widely seen as a final, major push to ensure the club retains its coveted Premier League status for next season.
