Until Fabrizio Romano lit a fire under those John Victor links, all the roads at West Ham United appeared to lead towards Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Hammers News reported back in July that, after initially showing an interest in Aaron Ramsdale, Djordje Petrovic and Zion Suzuki, Mads Hermansen had emerged as West Ham’s priority for the shot-stopping department.
As recently as Thursday afternoon, meanwhile, reporter Ben Jacobs claimed that the Hammers were optimistic that Leicester would sell for a fee in the region of £20 to £25 million.
A hefty reduction on last summer’s valuation of £35 million.
So, when Fabrizio Romano reported less than 24 hours later that West Ham United had submitted a bid, many supporters would have been forgiven for assuming that offer had landed on Leicester’s coffee table.
Instead – and this is a claim Hammers News can back up – it is Brazilian powerhouses Botafogo who have received a proposal.
Danish press say Mads Hermansen has agreed personal terms with West Ham United
Whether the 6ft 5ins giant John Victor is viewed at West Ham as a potential new number one – or instead a back-up behind a younger, Premier League-proven Hermansen – remains to be seen.
There is certainly nothing to suggest, at this stage, that West Ham have suddenly turned their back on Hermansen in favour of John Victor.
While Jacobs adds that West Ham will ‘keep pushing’ to bring Hermansen to the London Stadium, Danish publication Bold are also clearly of the opinion that the former Brondby ace remains a priority for Graham Potter and co.
To quote Bold, West Ham ‘have reached an agreement on the framework for personal terms’. The talks are both ‘close and concrete’, with a dialogue between the two clubs allegedly ‘positive’.
This does not mean that confirmation of Hermansen’s arrival is imminent, though. Leicester may need convincing if they are to accept a bid some £10 or £15 million less than their initial price-tag, even if the Foxes are under pressure to sell due to their well-publicised financial issues.
“I think West Ham are quite optimistic, and the reason for that is Leicester have brought in Asmir Begovic [as a new goalkeeper],” Jacobs says. “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.”
John Victor bid arrives after Wes Foderingham’s Everton error
John Victor, who impressed for Botafogo at this summer’s Club World Cup, might well have been lined up by West Ham as a replacement for Lukasz Fabianski rather than current first-choice Alphonse Areola.
Fabianski left when his contract expired in July. His place has not yet been taken at the London Stadium.
Potter currently has only Areola and Wes Foderingham at his disposal. Foderingham didn’t cover himself in glory against Everton in Wednesday’s Premier League Soccer Series clash in Chicago either, Idrissa Gana Gueye’s opener slipping through his body.
Interestingly, John Victor was heavily linked with Man United a few weeks ago. The Red Devils reportedly saw the former Santos sky-scraper as competition for Andre Onana, rather than someone capable of immediately installing himself between the sticks at Old Trafford.
In the meantime, Mads Hermansen is making progress after groin surgery at the back end of last season.
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