West Ham United are on the verge of appointing a replacement for long-serving goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero and a new number one could be on the cards too.
Graham Potter has shown a ruthless streak few knew he had since joining West Ham.
The Hammers boss has released veteran trio Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski.
And striker Michail Antonio could follow them out of the London Stadium exit too.
Popular Xavi Valero had worked under Manuel Pellegrini, David Moyes, Julen Lopetegui and then Potter at West Ham.
Changing of the guard in West Ham goalkeeper department
But Potter sent him packing too in a shake-up of the Hammers staff, leaving Valero – by his own admission – ‘sad’ and with a ‘heavy heart’.
West Ham desperately need to rebuild their team and squad this summer transfer window.
They also now need a replacement for Valero.
The Hammers already need to sign a goalkeeper after Fabianski was let go.
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There have been rumours number one Alphonse Areola could depart too.
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The Frenchman is among West Ham’s top earners on £120k per week and has been error-prone in recent seasons.
The likes of Djorde Petrovic, Noah Atubolu and James Trafford have been linked with moves to east London.
Burnley stopper Trafford is way out of West Ham’s league – with Newcastle and Spurs sniffing around the ex Man City academy star, who is valued at over £40m.
Now West Ham want to reunite a new goalkeeper coach with a new number one after a recommendation.
West Ham want to reunite new coach with a new number one
Tipsbladet is reporting that Danish goalkeeper coach Casper Ankergren has ‘pretty much’ agreed a contract to replace Valero at West Ham.
The report states the agreement ‘has not yet been signed’ but it is expected to be seen, before the start of pre-season training in two weeks.
Ankergren will be reunited with coach Potter, whom he knows very well from their time at Brighton together.
Interestingly, the 45-year-old is currently Brondby’s goalkeeper coach – where their striker Mathias Kvistgaarden is very much on West Ham’s radar too.
There could be another link emerging on the goalkeeper front if and when Ankergren arrives – in the shape of a new number one goalkeeper.
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Hermansen was told to join Hammers this summer
Or at least a top young star ready to challenge for the number one spot.
Former Denmark international Peter Kjaer seemed to have some inside information without letting the cat out of the bag earlier this month.
Kjaer tipped Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen for a move to West Ham following the Foxes’ relegation.
Hermansen, who turns 25 next month, has been linked with Man United.
But Kjaer argued West Ham would be the ideal – and a more suitable – destination.
Hermansen has previously been valued at around £35 million. But Leicester’s financial issues mean they will likely accept a far lower offer.
And to add a further layer of intrigue, Hermansen worked with imminent West Ham hire Ankergren at Brondby before his move to Leicester.
Hammers News understands Hermansen is very much a player of interest to West Ham.
Whether the club can afford him will depend on outgoings in the coming weeks.
Although Hammers News understands the club could make a loan offer to Leicester 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 has reported similar information on his Patreon page this evening, suggesting this could certainly be one to watch.