Bournemouth is considering a move for West Ham's €23m forward Pablo as a potential replacement for Eli Junior Kroupi. Kroupi's departure could trigger this transfer amid West Ham's fight for Premier League survival.
Report: Bournemouth considering move for €23m West Ham United star
Bournemouth’s summer planning could take a significant turn if Eli Junior Kroupi leaves for the sort of fee now being discussed. Sports Boom report that West Ham forward Pablo has emerged as a possible replacement option, with the 22-year-old’s future tied closely to West Ham’s Premier League survival battle.
Pablo only joined West Ham from Gil Vicente in January in a package worth around €23 million, arriving after an eye-catching spell in Portugal where he scored 10 goals in 13 matches. That record explains why English clubs remain alert, even though he has not yet fully settled under Nuno Espírito Santo.
Sports Boom state that if West Ham are relegated, “the sale of high-salaried players with significant market value will become inevitable.” Pablo is reportedly part of the club’s internal “relegation plan”, with offers in the region of €25-30 million likely to be considered.
That matters because Pablo’s contract runs until June 2030, giving West Ham some control. Yet long contracts do not remove financial pressure. Dropping into the Championship would create a major revenue hit, and players with resale value become obvious levers.
Bournemouth is looking at Pablo as a potential replacement for Eli Junior Kroupi, who may leave the club.
Pablo joined West Ham in January for a fee of around €23 million.
Pablo has not fully settled at West Ham but previously had an impressive record in Portugal, scoring 10 goals in 13 matches.
Bournemouth's move for Pablo could be triggered by the potential sale of Eli Junior Kroupi.
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For Bournemouth, the situation appears dependent on Kroupi. Sports Boom report that if the Cherries sell him for an “astronomical figure”, with rumoured numbers between €80-100 million, they could move for Pablo.
That would represent a bold piece of succession planning. Pablo has physical presence, penalty-box instincts and age on his side, but Bournemouth would need to be convinced he can adapt quickly to their attacking demands.
Brentford are also credited with serious interest. Sports Boom say Keith Andrews’ side have monitored Pablo since his Gil Vicente days and that “elbow contact” has already been established with the player’s representatives.
This is a story shaped by timing. West Ham’s league status, Bournemouth’s Kroupi decision and Brentford’s interest could all collide early in the window.
For Bournemouth, Pablo would not be a risk-free signing, but he fits the profile of a forward with upside. If Kroupi goes, the Cherries will need more than a replacement. They will need a player capable of carrying expectation from day one.
From a Bournemouth supporter’s point of view, this feels like the sort of rumour that needs caution. Pablo may have scored heavily in Portugal, but the Premier League is a different test entirely, and Bournemouth cannot afford to replace Kroupi with potential alone.
If Kroupi really attracts €80-100 million, Bournemouth should be shopping with ambition, not simply looking for a distressed asset from a relegated club. Pablo might become a very good forward, but there is a reason he has not yet fully exploded at West Ham.
The concern is not his talent, it is suitability. Bournemouth’s forward needs to press, combine, stretch defences and finish under pressure. A player with 10 goals in 13 matches in Portugal is interesting, but supporters will ask whether that sample size is enough.
There is also the Brentford angle. If Brentford like him, that usually says something positive about the data. But Bournemouth fans have seen enough transfer gambles to know that resale logic cannot be the whole plan.
Pablo could be smart business at €25-30 million. But if Kroupi leaves for a huge fee, Bournemouth must demand certainty, not just upside.