West Ham appear to have revealed their hand when it comes to their next goalkeeper signing — and it’s not good news for Chelsea.
A new clue has emerged pointing to the Hammers’ preferred option as Graham Potter reshapes his squad for the new season and it is a player his former club Chelsea really like.
West Ham and Chelsea have both been linked with a host of goalkeepers this summer transfer window.
The Hammers were actually said to have held discussions with the Blues over both Robert Sanchez and Djorde Petrovic.
Chelsea meanwhile have been looking closely at signing AC Milan and France star Mike Maignon.
One of his understudies for the French national team, Alphonse Areola, has faced an uncertain future in east London.
Areola has struggled to convince since being made West Ham’s number one.
- Hammers and Chelsea on hunt for new ‘keeper
He has been linked with the likes of Espanyol among others.
Potter released veteran Lukasz Fabianski when many felt he deserved another year.
But, as Chelsea have done so well in recent years, the Hammers boss is really trying to drive down the age of West Ham’s squad, which was the oldest in the Premier League last season.
West Ham’s talks over Sanchez hit a dead end when Chelsea decided to back the Spaniard and offload Kepa to Arsenal and Petrovic to Bournemouth.
With Areola the only top class proven goalkeeper at West Ham following Fabianski’s exit, signing a new player who can be the number one for years to come is a top priority for Potter.
Besides Petrovic and the man he has joined at Bournemouth, Caoimhin Kelleher, West Ham have also been linked with Noah Atubolu and Aaron Ramsdale among others too.
Now it looks like bad news for Chelsea as West Ham drop a major hint over their new goalkeeper signing.
It has been confirmed that West Ham are very focused on signing a new goalkeeper.
And an announcement from the Hammers today will reignite links that emerged a month ago.
It was reported in Denmark last month that Casper Ankergren had ‘pretty much’ agreed to replace Xavi Valero as West Ham’s lead goalkeeper coach.
Ankergren knows Potter very well from their time together at Brighton.
Bad news for Chelsea as West Ham drop major hint over signing
Hammers News reported Ankergren had advised West Ham to try and sign Leicester City stopper Mads Hermansen.
We reported the Hammers could make a loan offer with an obligation to buy, in order to kick the transfer fee can down the road as they did with Jean-Clair Todibo last summer.
West Ham insider ExWHUemployee reported similar information on his Patreon page at the time, suggesting this could certainly be one to watch.
Hermansen is a player former Leicester boss Enzo Maresca reportedly really wants to take to Chelsea, as reported by the likes of Goal.
Especially after Chelsea thinned out their bloated goalkeeper collection.
Ex-Denmark international Peter Kjaer seemed to have some inside information without letting the cat out of the bag at the start of the summer window.
Kjaer tipped Leicester goalkeeper Hermansen for a move to West Ham following the Foxes’ relegation.
The 25-year-old has been linked with Man United.
Now the Hammers appear to have given a real clue that they intend to move for Chelsea target Hermansen.
Because they have actually named the young Dane on the club’s official website – when announcing Ankergren as Valero’s replacement.
West Ham have confirmed the 45-year-old joins as Lead First-Team Goalkeeper Coach, arriving from Danish club Brøndby, where he spent the last four years as Head of Goalkeeping.
The Hammers then rather intriguingly brought Hermansen’s name into the equation of their own volition, pointing out the close relationship between the Leicester shot-stopper and Ankergren.
Hammers announce Ankergren with a cheeky mention of Hermansen
“During his time in Copenhagen, Ankergren oversaw the development of goalkeepers Mads Hermansen, who is now with Leicester City, and current Brøndby No1 and Austria international Patrick Pentz,” West Ham said in a statement.
“He will now take charge of the goalkeeping department at the Hammers and work closely with fellow new arrival, First-Team Goalkeeper Coach Linus Kandolin, who arrived recently from Swedish club IF Elfsborg.”
Interestingly, on the same day as the Ankergren announcement, Telegraph journalist Matt Law has also revealed he has heard Hermansen is being lined up by West Ham.
“Interesting that West Ham have appointed Casper Ankergren as lead goalkeeper coach,” Law said.
“I was told some time ago that Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is on West Ham’s list for a new keeper this summer and he has previously worked with Ankergren.”
Most certainly one to watch it seems now West Ham have some money in the club coffers following the sale of Mohammed Kudus.
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