West Ham close to Pablo deal after balking at £40m fee for Wolves' Strand Larsen

West Ham, who are closing in on a deal for the Fulham winger Adama Traoré, made an informal inquiry for Strand Larsen this month but have identified the €20m Brazilian at Gil Vicent as a cheaper option

TOO HIGH: Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jorgen Strand Larsen (left) and Arsenal's Jurrien Timber battle for the ball during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire

West Ham are in advanced talks over a deal for the Gil Vicente forward Pablo after having second thoughts about bidding for the Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Nuno Espírito Santo, whose side are at major risk of relegation from the Premier League, wants attacking reinforcements and club sources indicated on Tuesday that an opening offer for Strand Larsen was being prepared. However, there is a scattergun feel to West Ham’s recruitment and they have developed cold feet over the finances around Strand Larsen. Wolves want £40m for the Norwegian, whose wage demands are high.

West Ham, who are closing in on a deal for the Fulham winger Adama Traoré, made an informal inquiry for Strand Larsen this month but have identified Pablo as a cheaper option. Gil Vicente, the surprise package in Portugal this season, are expected to want €20m (£17.5m) for the Brazilian. It is understood negotiations are moving in the right direction.

Pablo has scored nine goals this season, lifting Gil Vicente to fourth in the Primeira Liga. The 21-year-old is a client of Nuno’s agent, Jorge Mendes. He is rated as a top prospect, although there is a recognition within West Ham that he would need time to adjust to English football.

West Ham are 18th, four points below 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and desperately need to strengthen their squad. David Sullivan, the largest shareholder, is prepared to back Nuno and West Ham are looking far and wide for forwards. They were monitoring Eddie Nketiah but the Crystal Palace forward has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Nuno has also looked at the Coventry duo Ellis Simms and Haji Wright. There is interest in the Viktoria Plzen striker Rafiu Durosinmi.

West Ham’s only natural forward option at the moment is Callum Wilson. Nuno has used Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville as central strikers in recent games. The manager wants a defender but an attempt to sign Manchester City’s Nathan Aké on loan has failed. Aké is not interested in the move. West Ham may revive interest in the Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.

Guardian