West Ham are looking to add a new goalkeeper to their ranks.placeholder image
West Ham are looking to add a new goalkeeper to their ranks. | Getty Images
Graham Potter may have finally found a deal to bring a new goalkeeper to West Ham.
West Ham are in advanced talks over a transfer for Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor as Graham Potter looks to add a new shot-stopper to his squad ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
Former West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui even made Fabianski first choice for a period last season and it’s known that Potter wants someone else who can push for the starting berth with Areola. The club does have Wes Foderingham on their books but the 34-year-old is still to make an appearance for the club.
West Ham pushing for goalkeeper transfer
Several candidates had been linked with a move to the London Stadium to fill that role. Earlier this summer, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale had emerged as a potential target but he has since completed a switch to Newcastle United.
Leicester City man Mads Hermansen had also emerged as a target, alongside Sheffield United star Michael Cooper. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has now added Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johannson to the list of candidates considered but maintains that a move for Victor is still the priority.
In an update on Monday, Romano wrote: “Viktor Johansson can leave Stoke City in the next days/weeks. Movements around the goalkeeper with PL clubs keen on signing him. West Ham considered move but now in advanced talks for Botafogo’s John, as exclusively revealed.”
Hammers work on £10 million Botafogo move
That followed a post on August 1 which read: “EXCL: West Ham submit formal bid worth €8m for Brazilian GK John Victor from Botafogo. Galatasaray and Everton also keen on John Victor after Man United monitored him in the recent months.”
The 29-year-old has spent almost all of his career in his home country of Brazil, having come through the Santos academy. His only time away from the country came in a 2023 loan spell to Spanish club Valladolid.
He joined Botafogo in January 2024 for a reported €1.5 million. While Romano carried reports of a €8 million bid, Football Insider claim that an offer of around that amount was rejected by the Brazilian club and that the deal is more likely to cost £10 million with a second bid needed.
The outlet claims that Victor had also been linked with Aston Villa, Burnley and Wolves this summer but that it is the Hammers who are to win the transfer race.
In other news, 'Contact Made': West Ham push to sign £40m star loved by Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole.
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