West Ham are closing in on a deal for Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor, according to Sky Sports, who used some rather telling wording in their latest update.
The Hammers reportedly had a second bid of €9.5 million rejected late last night, but have returned with a third offer in a bid to get the deal over the line.
More interesting, however, is Sky’s claim that West Ham “went nowhere near” Leicester City’s valuation of Mads Hermansen—suggesting the move collapsed due to money, not ambition.
This version differs significantly from yesterday’s explanation, which indicated that Hermansen’s insistence on guaranteed first-team football was the issue. Sky’s update suggests the real problem was financial—a far more likely scenario.
Hermansen is wanted but West Ham can’t afford Leicester keeper
As for Victor, the Brazilian stopper now looks increasingly likely to complete a move to West Ham for a fee in the region of £10 million, with Bournemouth’s Neto reportedly heading to Brazil to replace him.
If true, it’s a deal that could bring a swift end to the Hammers goalkeeper hunt—but it also raises further questions about the club’s ability to pay for top-level targets.
Clips of a John Victor goalkeeping howler have been doing the rounds on social media which hasn’t helped the players cause. The Brazilian is undoubtedly the cheaper alternative rather than the outstanding candidate. There are mixed reports and concerns regarding his ability but by most accounts he enjoyed an excellent Club World Cup and decent domestic campaign for Botofogo.
Why put our club down saying we can’t or won’t compete for high cost signings? Perhaps the truth is that we don’t think he’s worth what Leicester are asking.
There is no point in getting rid of Fabiansky in order to replace him with a similar or inferior GK for 10 million that Westham can’t afford . Potter . McCauley and Sullivan should all have known this . The 55 million available after the Kudus sale should never have been squandered in such a fashion , leaving almost nothing to sign a strong midfielder and striker . There doesn’t appear to be any intelligence whatsoever in Westham’s chaotic dealings .
Potter needs to start to stand up to Sullivan in the way that Moyes did ( not always successfully).This sort of signing could cost him his job
A video popped up on YT of John Victor. Now, these usually give a totally biased selection of good stuff. It was so repetitive that I only watched about half of it, but it suggests that he is a reasonable shot stopper. He didn’t catch it once and only retained possession a couple of times. Seems like a DS/ Willie McKay job to me, about as far from what GP prefers – he seems to give the ball to the opposition about 50% of the time. A great 5 a side keeper.
If you read the Leicester City forums they are like Hammers ones on speed. They with their money problems obviously can’t bring anyone in, realize they’ve hardly anyone that other clubs will want to buy, Mads being an exception, and have players on huge wages. If anything they’re more bothered about their inability to shift anyone. The presumption on here is always that it is West Ham screwing the deals up. How about if Leicester are overpricing their players or, more likely, they are so desperate for cash they want the bulk of any money up front? West Ham not buying well in the window might mean another difficult season. Leicester not selling could mean financial collapse. They should have gift wrapped Mads and delivered him to Rush Green.
Obviously our new goalkeeping coach sees John Victor as a really good investment. Much better that we acquire quality and potential at £10 million rather than waste a further £30 million just to make Leicester’s day.
Our coveted goalkeeping coach will also get the best from Alphonse Areola with a little less conversation and a little more action.
Good ownership is making sure that every employee is earning their money and putting in the effort. Good coaching is about maximising the potential of individuals within the overall system. No good engaging Joe Cole and stifling his talents. Same with Jack Grealish.
Rejoice, Irons. The future is bright. COYI
Kelleher from Liverpool was only £12m and would have been a great option! How did that option get missed? Areola like Mavropanos is an accident waiting to happen in every game. If these issues aren’t fixed we will pay the price again & again!
However on second thoughts, maybe it’s all part of a cunning plan by DS to go big on the midfield targets needed?? Probably not…….!
A Premiership Club, can not be run so amateur as we currently are, IF the current owner does not have the money, Then find a buyer, quickly and he can live off the money he will make from the sale!
I think Potter and Sullivans recruitment drive is going to be successful because its is fare more calculated and measured than in previous years.They are refusing to pay inflated prices for keepers .It is even more important to get the3 right keeper than a midfielder if the Team finds itself in a lower half position. Potter is proving himself to be a shrewd judge of players so far and their psyches
If you pay peanuts ….. same old story
So that would leave around £25m of the Kudus money left for a midfielder. Decided not to go for Dewsbury Hall so hopefully we have another decent target in mind. I would guess that would be it apart from a loan or two if we are lucky. Still some grounds for optimism with the emergence of a few of our younger players.
I don’t think that’s a bad assessment of the money remaining Timbo. Clearly the club believed there would be more interest in out players to boost the fund.
It’s always the same with Sullivan he has no ambition for the club just wants to play the big I am who doesn’t have a clue how a football club should be run the transfers that he decides on just shows how useless he is as a owner of a football club sooner him and the rest of the clowns running our club pack up and go the better
Said all along we’re broke apart from what left of the Kudus money. Sky have it right. So unless we sell, don’t expect any young talented midfielder coming in because we just can’t afford them.
So who’s faults that This goalkeeper guy from Brazil is going to be the gravest decision signing SULLIVAN will make at all the years at W Ham and that’s saying something
Forget Ariola with the ball at his feet , his biggest problem is coming out to command his 6yd box..that why he is a reaction keeper…watching this John viktor guy for me is like watching Ariola on a bad day (not once have I seen him catch a ball) let alone come off his line to do so more of the same I afraid…
More low ball offers from Sullivan, opportunity to get a half decent, young, experienced premier league player. No let go for the bargain bucket South American four years older, no European football and we’re still offering less than the £10M they are asking! Joke of a club, glad I gave my season ticket up when we went to SGB stadium. RIP West Ham United FC
How are we going to improve and sign the right players if DS won’t pay decent money . We need the right players not the cheapest !
Behaving like a championship/ div 1 club . Cannot wait for the day this man ( Sullivan) has gone
£30m for a keeper is a lot isn’t it ?
Shows how the market is changing that keepers can be that expensive. We continue to be linked with high priced targets Hoijland, Yilmaz, Fernandes etc
Linked. But we won’t sign any of them. They cost money.