There has been a lot of talk, when it comes to West Ham’s long-running Mateus Fernandes saga, about the ‘new financial year’. So too regarding the future of Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
Are the Hammers, Tottenham and Manchester United waiting until the beginning of July to conclude what appears destined to become one of the most drawn-out transfers of the summer?
If Mateus Fernandes’ exit takes place early next month, rather than in late-June, the eventual victor will be able to amortise a potential £85 million onto 2027’s finances. Thus, giving them both a little more wriggle room in the here and now.
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West Ham United, meanwhile, would presumably like to bring things to an end sooner rather than later due to their own PSR pressures.
Recently-promoted Hull City have a late-June deadline nagging away at them, too. According to BBC Sport, The Tigers could begin their first Premier League campaign since 2016/17 with a six-point deduction unless they raise £6 million before the start of July.
If West Ham are serious about bringing Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur to the London Stadium, then, the time to act is now.
West Ham United are long-time fans of Hull City’s Ivor Pandur
West Ham held ‘concrete talks’ with Pandur during the summer of 2025. That was before Mads Hermansen arrived from Leicester City.
A year later, with Alphonse Areola’s future uncertain, West Ham have been linked with Pandur again.
And Hull’s interest in Man United prospect Radek Vitek opens the door to a potential departure for the Croatian glovesman. The Hammers, seemingly drawn to Pandur’s impressive track record in the second tier, should be waiting to pounce if Hull decide to replace a man who saved two penalties and boasted the seventh-best ‘expected goals prevented’ metric in the league.
According to experienced reporter Alan Nixon on Patreon, Hull value Pandur at £10 million.
This alone would ensure a six-point deduction is avoided, so long as the former Hellas Verona and Fortuna Sittard keeper has a new club before next Wednesday.
“We have overspent and we have to sell some players before 1 July,” admitted the ambitious and occasionally rather reckless Hull chairman Acun Ilicali earlier this month.
“I’m not afraid. We have managed harder things. For us, this is more manageable. Now we are a Premier League team, the values [of our players] have risen, which is a good advantage.”
As things stand, with just over four days remaining, none of Hull’s current players appear close to a departure. Let alone one worth in excess of £6 million.
But if Hull sell one of their other players instead, Pandur’s price-tag beyond the June 30th deadline is likely to increase. This feels like a rare opportunity to pursue a bargain deal that would suit all parties.
Still, as West Ham await the conclusion to the Mateus Fernandes saga, agreeing a deal with Man United or current frontrunners Spurs over the weekend would free up some extra funds to help Hull City out of their own financial spot.
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Pandur could replace the high-earning Alphonse Areola
Pandur was labelled an ‘outstanding shot-stopper’ by former Hull coach Liam Rosenior during his debut season in England. He would go on to keep three successive clean sheets as Sergej Jakirovic guided the Tigers through the play-offs, via a semi-final victory over Millwall and a Wembley win over Middlesbrough.
But like the previous play-off winners – Sunderland – Hull may decide that the players who got them out of the Championship are not quite at the level required to keep them in the Premier League.
In addition to Vitek, Hull are reportedly looking to upgrade with Braga’s Lukas Hornicek or Bayern Munich’s Alexander Nubel.
Areola, meanwhile, earns a reported £120,000-a-week in East London. An extremely hefty fee for a back-up goalkeeper at a Championship club. It is unlikely the Hammers would stand in his way. Youngsters Fin Herrick and Mason Terry may fancy their chances of a back-up role behind Hermansen, though loan spells in the EFL may be more beneficial.
In Pandur, West Ham would get a goalkeeper with 88 Championship appearances and one promotion on his CV to push Hermansen hard for the starting spot.
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