The concern was understandable when West Ham United made a move for Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale earlier in the window.
If you count a loan spell at Chesterfield earlier in his career, the England international would have arrived at the London Stadium with no fewer than four relegations on his CV. Three of those have come in the Premier League too, including a disastrous 2024/25 campaign at the Saints.
So, when West Ham made contact with Aaron Ramsdale’s camp two months ago, it does not take a genius to work out why some on the London Stadium terraces felt this was an omen the club could do without.
As it transpires, Ramsdale is not the only member of a dreadful Southampton squad with admirers at West Ham United.
And if the five-time England international would have been a fairly unpopular addition to Graham Potter’s roster, then one can only imagine the response had Jan Bednarek swapped the red and white stripes for claret and blue.
Agent claims West Ham United wanted Jan Bednarek from Southampton
A 29-year-old central defender who has suffered relegation from the Premier League in two of the last three seasons.
A man who has found himself on the wrong end of two separate 9-0 obliterations, and who has scored the joint-fourth most own goals in the competition’s history with four.
At a time when West Ham plan to reinvent Graham Potter’s roster with a focus on younger, more forward-thinking acquisitions – Callum Wilson’s likely arrival aside – Jan Bednarek would have felt like a return to the dark days of ill-advised, short-term acquisitions.
Speaking to Polish publication Meczyki, Bednarek’s agent – Tomasz Magdziarz – confirms that West Ham made an approach for the one-time Aston Villa loanee before Southampton accepted a £6.5 million bid from Portuguese giants FC Porto.
“I think Porto was the biggest club that came forward,” Magdziarz says. “There were offers from England and beyond. Leeds United and West Ham appeared. Many clubs were interested in Jan.
“However, we must remember that he had a very good contract at Southampton, one of the higher ones, and many clubs that were interested in him could not afford it.”
Whether that includes West Ham – Bednarek reportedly earned £60,000-a-week during his time at St Mary’s – Magdziarz does not confirm or deny.
Though it is difficult to imagine many Hammers supporters, those already fearing a relegation battle next season, being too disappointed after the twice-relegated Bednarek heads out to Iberia.
Aaron Ramsdale joins Newcastle as West Ham pursue Mads Hermansen
As for Ramsdale, another club with a frustrated fanbase appeared to rescue him from his Southampton purgatory this week. The one-time Premier League Team of the Year member joins Newcastle United for a loan fee of £4 million, with an option to make the transfer permanent next summer.
West Ham are stepping up a goalkeeper pursuit of their own at present, Hammers News understands.
As Robin Roefs heads to Sunderland and as Parma slap a huge price-tag on Zion Suzuki’s head, Leicester City glovesman Mads Hermansen has emerged as the most likely acquisition.
Speaking on talkSPORT yesterday, reporter Ben Jacobs claimed that West Ham are ‘optimistic’ a deal for Hermansen will happen in the final month of the window.
“I think West Ham are quite optimistic,” Jacobs said. “And the reason for that is Leicester have brought in Asmir Begovic.
“There are only a couple of assets who Leicester can sell for big money to help them. They need to strengthen in attack because Jamie Vardy has gone, so they maybe have to sacrifice one big name.
“Leicester, a year ago, valued [Hermansen] at £35 million. From my understanding, West Ham are thinking more around the £20 – £25 million mark. Still a lot of money for a goalkeeper, and maybe enough to turn the heads of the Leicester hierarchy.
“Expect West Ham to keep pushing. Talks are ongoing, and I think there is some optimism from Graham Potter and the recruitment team that they might get this one over the line.”
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