West Ham have made a second bid for John Victor that’s expected to be accepted and a journalist claims he fully deserves the big move.
The Hammers are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper after Graham Potter chose to release Lukasz Fabianski.
Mads Hermansen and Zion Suzuki have been the top targets for West Ham this summer.
Leicester stopper Hermansen was a protégé of West Ham’s new head of goalkeeping, Casper Ankergren, when they were together at Brondby.
Hammers News revealed Hermansen was a key West Ham target when reporting on the expected appointment of Ankergren back in June.
Super agent offered Victor to West Ham
In an exclusive this week, Hammers News also revealed a third goalkeeper has been offered to West Ham in the shape of John Victor.
Our report revealed that super agent Willie McKay was pushing Botafogo ‘keeper Victor to West Ham after he was linked with Man United.
After our big reveal, Fabrizio Romano confirmed West Ham had made a £6.5m bid for Victor – who has an £8.5m release clause.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
The move came out of left field and has given rise to theories Victor is a David Sullivan target being “forced” on Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.
Giant goalkeeper John Victor in action for Botafogo against Bragantino in the Copa Do Brasil
Photo by Wanderson Colino/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Victor is 29 and has never been capped by Brazil.
The official Hammers bid came amid slow progress in talks with Leicester and Parma for Hermansen and Suzuki.
West Ham’s opening bid for Victor was instantly rejected.
Now there has been a major development which could see the 6ft 5in star become the club’s third signing of a slow summer window.
West Ham have made a second bid for Victor that’s set to be accepted and he ‘deserves’ the big move says a journalist.
West Ham make second bid for Victor that’s set to be accepted
According to UOL, the Hammers have gone straight back to Botafogo with an improved bid for Victor.
It is claimed the bid will be between £8.75m and £10.5m.
That would put West Ham’s second bid right on the money for Victor’s alleged release clause.
So if the offer has indeed been made then it is widely expected to be accepted.
Despite the move being questioned by many Hammers fans who would not have heard of Victor until this week, one journalist believes a move to a club like West Ham is long overdue for the former Brazil Under 17 international.
Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor sinks to his knees in celebration
Photo by Wanderson Colino/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Victor ‘deserves’ big West Ham move says journalist
Nathan Joyes is a South American football journalist and founder of TheCopaClub with a focus on Brazilian football.
He responded to reports of West Ham’s interest in signing Victor, saying he is delighted the goalkeeper is finally getting some recognition after his Club World Cup heroics.
“Great to see John Victor getting recognition after a phenomenal period with Botafogo,” Joyes said on X after learning of West Ham’s bid.
“(He) deserves a chance at a higher level if it comes his way.”
Victor was sold to Botafogo by Santos in January last year for a rumoured fee of just £1m plus 85 per cent of his federative rights.
One thing that will concern West Ham fans is the fact Victor has a recent history of muscle injuries.
However, he has managed to make 84 appearances in his two seasons with John Textor-owned club so far.
Botafogo have recently sold a raft of players and it comes after Textor revealed he would sell stars from the Brazilian side to help pay down enormous debt at one of his other clubs, Lyon.
West Ham paid £10.5m for Alphonse Areola from PSG but he has failed to make the number one spot his own.
Many Hammers fans would prefer a move for a younger goalkeeper who can be Areola’s long-term successor than a player who turns 30 next season.
Victor has played in Europe before, for Spanish club Real Valladolid when they were owned by football legend Ronaldo of R9 fame.