Is this an opportunity West Ham United will regret not taking? The chance to sign an ‘outstanding shot-stopper’ with a Championship promotion on his CV for as little as £6 million?
Hopefully this is not a question Hammers fans will be ruminating over during the course of the upcoming campaign.
Now, there was always a pretty good chance that Hull City would receive an approach for Ivor Pandur before the month was out. The 2025/26 play-off winners were under pressure to sell one star player before the end of the financial year, in order to avoid a potential Premier League points deduction.
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Given that West Ham United are long-time admirers of Pandur – Sky Sports say they held talks back in 2025 – Hull’s precarious financial position appeared to leave the door ajar for a club who may be in the market for a new goalkeeper.
But, barring a late twist over the next 24 hours, Pandur looks destined to kick off the new campaign in a Rangers shirt instead.
West Ham United should have pounced on Hull City’s Ivor Pandur
According to reporter Ben Jacobs, Rangers are set to sign Pandur – who was labelled an ‘outstanding shot-stopper’ by ex-Tigers boss Liam Rosenior – for a fee of just £6 million.
As part of the deal, Hull will welcome a 33-year-old Jack Butland back across Hadrian’s Wall.
As for West Ham, well, let’s just say Nuno Espirito Santo will be hoping that Mads Hermansen can silence his doubters once and for all. He’ll have to.
Pandur felt like potentially the ideal competitor for the number one jersey at the London Stadium; a glovesman with nearly 90 Championship appearances under his belt and, at the age of 26, still young enough to improve considerably.
Instead, West Ham may go into next season with Alphonse Areola as one of the highest-earning reserves outside of the Premier League. Areola earns a reported £120,000-a-week.
And while East London is home to some of the most exciting young goalkeepers in the country, no one knows for certain how Fin Herrick or Mason Terry would react if Areola was sold and Hermansen was struck down by injury. One suspects that, after stints at Boreham Wood and Braintree Town, loan spells in the EFL may be the next step for Herrick and Terry.
According to club insider ExWHUEmployee, there is still a very good chance that Areola will leave West Ham alongside the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville. The Frenchman’s wife hit out at Nuno’s treatment of a former Real Madrid, PSG and Villarreal stopper following confirmation of their relegation.
Though, in Nuno’s defence, Hermansen racked up seven clean sheets in 14 Premier League matches after ousting Areola in February. The Dane’s experienced rival did not manage even one in his 20 top-flight outings.
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In the meantime, Hermansen is looking forward to the challenge of dragging West Ham back to where they believe they truly belong. He was part of the Leicester City side who stormed to the Championship title under Enzo Maresca a couple of seasons back.
“Fortunately, the Championship is a strong league,” Hermansen told Bold recently. “I agree that it is not measured against the top shelf because it is the second-best league.
“But I think playing 46 games in the league, plus cup games, helps make you better, even if it’s not Premier League-level. [But] of course, you have to play at the highest possible level. That is what I strive for.
“It is certain that I will show up as a West Ham player [in pre-season].”
West Ham have some clarity, at least, regarding the future of one of Nuno’s regular starters.
But with Herrick and Terry unproven, with Areola uncertain, the Ibrox-bound Ivor Pandur does feel like a £6 million opportunity missed.
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