West Ham United, embroiled in a relegation battle alongside Leeds United, is reportedly edging closer to sealing a lucrative £20 million deal for a striker in prolific form, aiming to bolster their quest to climb out of the Premier League bottom three.
Presently locked in the relegation struggle with Wolves and Burnley, the Hammers find themselves four points adrift of Nottingham Forest and safety. Leeds, sitting one spot above and with a two-point advantage, seek to extend their lead as they gear up to face reigning champions Liverpool, riding the momentum of a five-game undefeated streak to wrap up 2025.
While West Ham experienced a brief resurgence with consecutive victories in early November, they have hit a rut, failing to secure a win in eight matches, drawing four times, including a recent 2-2 deadlock against Brighton at home. With fixtures against Wolves and Forest on the horizon, there is a growing sense of urgency within the club to clinch maximum points to avoid slipping further down the table.
In a bid to stave off the looming threat of relegation, the leadership at London Stadium is poised to make significant investments this transfer window, with securing a natural striker among their top priorities for January. Swift action seems imminent, with emerging reports indicating that a deal has been greenlit and a medical examination scheduled.
As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, a reliable source, a ‘full agreement’ has been reached for Gil Vicente’s striking sensation Pablo Felipe, who has dazzled with 10 goals from 13 appearances in the Portuguese top-flight this season. West Ham is set to clinch the deal at €23 million (£20.1 million), with the player slated to undergo medical tests on Thursday.
While Pablo has demonstrated his prowess during the first half of the 2025/26 campaign in Portugal, there are acknowledgments that he still has room for development and may require some time to adapt to the rigors of English football. For Leeds, the arrival of Pablo could evoke memories of their January 2023 acquisition of Georginio Rutter.
Anticipated to have the £20 million striker available for the crucial Wolves fixture, insiders suggest that the deal is on the verge of completion, with a possibility that Pablo could feature in the pivotal clash against Wolves, a high-stakes encounter at the foot of the table. Furthermore, talks of bringing in another fresh face, such as Fulham’s coveted Adama Traore, hint at West Ham’s ambition to fortify their squad for the arduous battle ahead.
Looking ahead, Leeds United appears to be taking a more measured approach, with manager Daniel Farke indicating that new signings in the immediate future are unlikely. However, the club’s recruitment hierarchy is poised to explore the options in the loan market for potential mid-season reinforcements, especially in the attacking department.
Recent murmurings have linked Leeds to a potential move for Forest’s James McAtee, who has struggled to find consistent game time following his high-profile £30 million switch from Manchester City last summer. In addition, rumors have surfaced linking the Whites to Union Berlin’s commanding center-back Danilho Doekhi, underscoring the ongoing efforts to strengthen squad depth and quality during the mid-season transfer window.
