West Ham have moved to set the record straight on three major rumours surrounding new signing Pablo after a wave of speculation and conflicting reports.
The Hammers have now officially made their first signing of the January transfer window after announcing Pablo Felipe has joined on a long-term deal.
West Ham desperately needed to sign at least two powerful, pacy new strikers in the summer window.
Every Hammers fan could see it but Graham Potter reportedly told the Hammers board he did not feel his budget needed to be spent on a striker.
Instead Callum Wilson was brought in on a free transfer.
While Wilson has been good value and a reliable presence after a history of lengthy injury problems, West Ham’s lack of depth up front and in defence has plunged the club into a relegation dogfight.
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With their fewest points at the halfway stage since they were last relegated in 2010/11, many believe the Hammers are doomed.
But West Ham have hit the panic button by sanctioning several moves to boost Nuno Espirito Santo’s options.
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The Irons have been closing on strikers Pablo and Valentin Castellanos in deals worth £20m and £27m respectively.
Adama Traore is also expected to arrive for a nominal fee while defender Charlie Cresswell is next in West Ham’s sights.
The blitz of early transfer business is very much out of character for West Ham, who often leave deals until late in windows.
It suggests the club’s owners are seriously concerned West Ham will be relegated if something is not done – as they should be.
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
It is Pablo who has arrived first with the Hammers officially unveiling the 22-year-old on Friday night.
Now West Ham have set the record straight on three big rumours about new signing Pablo.
Pablo joins the Hammers from Portuguese club Gil Vicente, for whom he has scored 10 goals and laid on one assist in 13 Primeira Liga appearances this season.
There has been a lot of misreporting about the nationality of West Ham’s 58th striker signing of the David Sullivan era.
West Ham set record straight on three big rumours about Pablo
Many reports and journalists have referred to Pablo as Portuguese while others have stated his nationality is Brazilian.
But West Ham have confirmed the new boy is in fact Brazilian.
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It is easy to see how the mistake was made by some because Pablo was born in Braga, Portugal.
But the 6ft star played for three Brazilian clubs before moving back to Portugal.
The second big rumour about Pablo that has been addressed by West Ham is who was responsible for signing him.
As a little-known Brazilian striker – on these shores at least – many West Ham fans have assumed de facto director of football Sullivan was behind the signing.
Others have stated that Nuno’s super-agent and transfer right-hand man Jorge Mendes was the one who identified Pablo as a signing.
Hammers News exclusively revealed last week that West Ham’s board insisted Nuno and the club’s scouts were firmly in charge of targets.
And West Ham have made it perfectly clear in the Pablo announcement that he has very much been chosen, and pushed for, by Nuno.
“A strong, powerful centre-forward who can score and create goals, bring others into play and has a relentless work-rate, Pablo has had an outstanding campaign so far and was identified as a key target by Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo,” West Ham confirmed.
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly given what is at stake, West Ham have set the record straight on whether Pablo was signed in time to face Wolves in a must-win clash on Saturday.
Many reports and rumours stated Pablo was not signed in time given the announcement came late on Friday evening.
The deadline to register players is usually 12pm on the day before that game week.
West Ham signed Pablo in time to face Wolves – if selected
Due to January 1st being a Bank Holiday, Hammers News understands the registration deadline on Friday – the day the window officially opened – was actually 6pm.
And now West Ham have confirmed Pablo was signed before the cut-off and is available to face Wolves, with the caveat being if selected by Nuno.
“He has signed in time to be available for Saturday’s encounter against Wolves at Molineux, if selected,” West Ham added.
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