West Ham’s latest incoming signing, Mads Hermansen, has travelled to London today and will undergo his medical with the club tomorrow.
The Leicester City goalkeeper previously worked with Hammers coach Casper Ankergren at Brøndby and was Graham Potter’s top choice for the position.
He joins in an £18 million deal—by far the most West Ham have ever paid for a goalkeeper. For context, it’s worth remembering that Phil Parkes’ move from QPR to Upton Park was a world-record fee for a goalkeeper back in 1979 at £500,000.
The signing of Hermansen brings to an end a truly chaotic transfer saga, with the Hammers seemingly linked with anyone who can catch a ball and even a few who couldn’t.
That said, it’s encouraging to see Potter being backed with players of his choosing—especially in what has been a problematic position for some time.
Now, attention must turn to reinforcing central midfield, arguably an even more pressing concern, with the Premier League season just eight days away.
We need a younger midfield it’s essential imo,young academy players around them,thought the keeper from leicester deal was dead,so overjoyed to get him,board need to strengthen more,not impressed with Wilson tbh think he’s too old for what is needed,COYI
I didn’t feel confident at the prospect of Victor, tbh. Good shot stopper, but rarely seems to catch or gather the ball.
Hermansen seems the perfect solution, but not the finished article.
I’m also glad some perspective has come out about the Victor deal — i.e. he wasn’t sitting at the airport and we callously ditched him last minute.
And wasn’t Bobby Ferguson also a then world record for a goalkeeper? I think £65k in ’67 and bought in preference to Gordon Banks.
Diouf yep. KWP yep. Wilson deranged. Hermansen yep. Not a midfielder among them when the midfield simply wasn’t at the races last term.
Not just central midfielders but upfront as well where the combinedcage of our current strikers is almost 70.
It might be the most we’ve paid for a keeper but Areola’s wages (around five million a year) add up fast. The new keeper is, at least at Leicester (and if the web is right), on a tenth of that
What a fantastic signing.
They seem to go for newly relegated team’s players?? A cause of concern if you ask me
Why? Just look at players we’ve lost when relegated.
Got the likes of Joe Cole, Jermaine Defoe, Scott Parker, Frederic Kanoute, Demba Ba, Trevor Sinclair, Matt Upson… plenty of decent players there. Hell, Roy Keane got his move to Man Utd after being relegated with Forest and is considered one of the best midfielders to have ever played in the PL.
Just because someone is part of a side that gets relegated, it doesn’t make them bad players. And a relegated side is more likely to accept lesser offers so you can potentially get bargain signings.
Fabianski was fantastic and we signed him straight after he’d been relegated with Swansea .. This guy made some great saves when Leicester beat us last year ..
Fernandes at Southamton worth a look for midfield now keeper sorted
Don’t stop now backing of Potters choices needs to continue.
Raphael Onyeduka for instance.
I agree Jeeps but I did ask about him today and got told “not yet”, whatever that means?
I know I am probably going to regret this but, dare I say, things are starting to look up a little in E20. If we can just add the right midfielder to the mix in the next 3 weeks………..
Sssh Ray, keep it down until we see more of this in the other needed positions but this is a very good signing, once completed.
At last some positivity wage bill down younger players in not wasting money on over rated has-been’s i can’t think of a better transfer window. We are playing as a team everyone seems really happy suddenly Potter has cast some magic changed formation and i predict a half decent season i don’t even think we need anyone else just get rid of a few probably on loans.