The transfer window hadn\u2019t even officially opened when West Ham United<\/a> moved into pole position to sign both Pablo and Valentin \u2018Taty\u2019 Castellanos, to a soundtrack of Jools Holland honky-tonk.<\/p>\n Pablo looks set to be West Ham\u2019s first signing of January\u2026\ud83d\udcaa <\/p>\n What are YOUR thoughts on this deal?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n According to club insider ExWHUEmployee<\/a>, Pablo arrived in London for a medical<\/a> on Thursday. Lazio forward Castellanos is set to join<\/a> as well, meaning the Premier League survival battlers will have spent \u00a343 million on two number nines within the opening days of 2026.<\/p>\n Now, Pablo may prove to be quite the bargain at \u00a317.5 million. The statistics show that West Ham are signing a striker more ruthless than Erling Haaland<\/a>, albeit in a league where Darwin Nunez and Viktor Gyokeres hit a staggering tally of goals. <\/p>\n Pablo sits in the 99th percentile across Europe when it comes to shot conversion.<\/p>\n FC Utrecht left-back Souffian El Karouani, though, feels more like a \u2018bargain\u2019 in the traditional sense. But as obstacles tumble in pursuit of two new strikers, neither Burnley nor Chelsea have done Nuno any favours in pursuit of the Eredivisie \u2018Assist King\u2019 and his \u2018amazing left foot\u2019 [Vandaag Inside<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dutch publication RTV<\/a> reported on the other side of Christmas that El Karouani was \u2018on his way\u2019 to West Ham<\/a>.<\/p>\n He still might be, of course. <\/p>\n Utrecht owner Frans van Seumeren is ready to sell<\/a>, as the Dutch-born Moroccan sees his contract run down. The Mirror<\/a> believe that El Karouani could be available for as little as \u00a33 million.<\/p>\n There is, though, the very real possibility that Ajax throw their hat into the ring and give West Ham a serious run for their money.<\/p>\n If a new left-back to challenge El Hadji Malick Diouf and Ollie Scarles feels like a luxury rather than a necessity, the same cannot be said of Ajax. <\/p>\n De Telegraaf<\/a> report that the top priority of the Dutch giants this month was to bring Jorrel Hato back to the Johan Cruyff Arena. Ajax have struggled to replace Hato following his \u00a333.5 million departure in the summer. So who better to fill that void than the man himself? <\/p>\n BBC Sport<\/a>, though, say that Chelsea have now scotched those plans. Former skipper Hato will not be leaving on loan this month. Quilindschy Hartman, Burnley\u2019s ex-Feyenoord wideman, has since ruled out a move to the Dutch capital of his own. <\/p>\n \u201cWith this message, I would like to make it clear that I am not going to Ajax,\u201d Hartman said this week. \u201cAs long as I am a Burnley player I will give everything for the club.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s good that I clear up this because I\u2019m the only one who knows how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott Parker, Burnley manager and former West Ham stalwart, has since confirmed that Hartman remains a key part of his plans.<\/p>\n What CHANGES would you make to West Ham\u2019s XI away to Wolves? <\/p>\n Paqueta out? Summerville in? What about Callum Wilson?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Utrecht owner Frans van Seumeren would let El Karouani move to England<\/p>\n So could this see Ajax go all guns blazing for Souffian El Karouani? De Telegraaf<\/a> did report a few days ago, when Hato and Hartman were still being pursued, that a set-piece wizard with 15 assists this season already had also been \u2018explored\u2019 by the 2019 Champions League semi-finalists.<\/p>\n \u201c[Utrecht] have to keep growing. The biggest challenge, and this applies to almost every football club, is the financial side of things. You want to have a balanced budget,\u201d Van Seumeren recently told\u00a0Algemeen Dagblad<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA club like FC Utrecht sometimes needs a financial boost, but you also have a certain responsibility. If anyone knows Russia, it\u2019s me. So we\u2019ll have to do it differently.<\/p>\n \u201cSouffian has always said, \u2018FC Utrecht can make money off me\u2019. Hopefully, we\u2019ll reach an amicable agreement. Preferably with a longer contract, otherwise I hope we can manage to sell him in the winter.\u201d<\/p>\n What happens next, regarding West Ham\u2019s interest, may depend on whether or not a certain 20-year-old academy graduate can build on his stand-out performance against Brighton in Tuesday\u2019s 2-2 draw.<\/p>\n![\"Sporting](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2212910069-1024x712.jpg\")
Photo by Gualter Fatia\/Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Souffian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2237569942-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Roy Lazet\/Soccrates \/Getty ImagesWest Ham United were not helped by Chelsea and Burnley in Souffian El Karouani battle<\/p>\n![\"West](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuno-Wolves-quotes-1-819x1024.jpg\")
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