If reports are to be believed, West Ham United are not waiting around for the January transfer window to officially open before they start trying to strengthen Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.

It is no secret that the head coach wants additions in the opening weeks of 2026.

Hammers News have already confirmed that Nuno is hoping to land an ‘athletic’ centre-forward – a speedy, mobile antithesis to the ageing and injury-prone Niclas Fullkrug – while Eredivisie duo Ismael Saibari and Quinten Timber have been shortlisted as potential acquisitions for the number eight role.

As far as centre-backs go, it appears that West Ham United have reacted pretty quickly to news of Alexsandro’s injury blow.

Lille stopper Alexsandro was Nuno’s first-choice defensive target. An aggressive but technically-capable, left-footed Brazil international. Alexsandro has since suffered a problem with his quadriceps, and will be out of action for the foreseeable future.

According to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, though, the Hammers have wasted little time turning their attention to another Portuguese-speaking centre-half in Lecce’s Tiago Gabriel.

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West Ham have reportedly made a bid worth £15.8 million for Gabriel.

Unsurprisingly, considering the impact he has made in Italy’s top-flight this season at the age of just 20, suitors are not in short supply. Gabriel reportedly has admirers at Atalanta, Roma and Serie A leaders Inter Milan, though the financial muscle of the Premier League means West Ham cannot be discounted.

Lecce, Gazzetta dello Sport add, have rejected that opening offer from the London Stadium. They are holding out for a fee in excess of £20 million.

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A 6ft 4ins giant of a man, Gabriel graduated from the feted Sporting Lisbon academy, like one of the current members of Nuno’s squad.

He has also played alongside Mateus Fernandes for Portugal’s Under-21 side. Only time will tell if that connection proves to be an ace up West Ham sleeves.

Mateus Fernandes’ Portugal teammate has ‘great potential’

Lecce have lost only two of their last seven league matches, thanks in part to the performances of Tiago Gabriel and Danilo Veiga at the back.

“We’ve grown a lot in the last six months. Now, we’re at our best. We can show our potential and prove that we’re ready,” Veiga told Radio TV Serie A this month. “[Gabriel] is a player with great potential, who will definitely improve in the coming years. He is a great person. He is growing a lot. I am happy for him.”

Panteleo Corvino, Lecce’s technical director, confirms that the club have already received bids in the region of £22 million, far greater than the sum offered by West Ham.

Having sold Patrick Dorgu to Manchester United for big money nearly a year ago, Lecce will not be bullied into selling Gabriel on the cheap.

“We’re keeping an eye on him, and there are already offers of 25 million euros and up,” Corvino said. “We believe in his qualities.”

Former coach Daniel Rosendo says Gabriel is a ‘true warrior’

While Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman have struggled at times to deal with crosses into the area this term, Gabriel is a 6ft 4ins ‘warrior’ of a centre-half who relishes the physical battle.

“He’s a player who passed through my life and I’m proud to talk about him,” Daniel Rosendo, who coached the youngster at Estrela de Amadora, told Zero Zero. “He was my boy. He’s a guy who entered my circle of beloved players because of what he achieved, because of the effort he put in.

“He was a true warrior.

“He’s a player with an enormous stride. We taught him to read the game, to anticipate situations, to organise the defence, how to occupy space, to be on top of the player, to lead the line. With these tactical concepts, you can overcome any difficulties he might have in agility and acceleration.”