West Ham Close In on Gil Vicente's Pablo After Cooling on Jørgen Strand Larsen
West Ham United are in advanced talks to sign Pablo, a 21-year-old Brazilian forward from Gil Vicente, after pulling back from a bid for Jørgen Strand Larsen of Wolves. Pablo, who has scored nine goals in the current Primeira Liga season and is represented by agent Jorge Mendes, is seen as a more affordable option compared to Strand Larsen, whose price tag stands at around £40 million.
Gil Vicente expect a transfer fee in the region of €20 million (£17.5 million) for Pablo, with negotiations reportedly progressing well. West Ham's interest in Strand Larsen has cooled due to financial considerations and wage demands, leading the club to shift focus to Pablo following an informal inquiry for Strand Larsen.
West Ham, positioned 18th in the Premier League and four points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, are actively seeking reinforcements to improve their standing. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo retains backing from club chairman David Sullivan despite the challenging season.
Current forward options at West Ham include Callum Wilson as the natural striker, with Bowen and Summerville occasionally filling the role. Eddie Nketiah remains sidelined due to injury. Additionally, West Ham have shown interest in other targets such as Rafiu Durosinmi, Ellis Simms, and Haji Wright. Their loan attempt for Nathan Aké was unsuccessful, while a potential deal for Axel Disasi could be revisited.
West Ham’s recruitment approach remains broad as they seek to strengthen their attacking options during this crucial period of the campaign.
