West Ham fans have been dealt some decidedly average news with the revelation that both Mads Hermansen and Zion Suzuki were considered too ambitious for the club. Well—at least that’s how it reads to me.
The latest update comes from ExWHUEmployee, who has supported earlier claims by Fabrizio Romano that Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor is now the club’s main transfer target. The Hammers are said to be in advanced talks with the 29-year-old Brazilian over a £9.5 million deal.
But it’s Ex’s revelation that will raise the most concern. According to the West Ham ITK, the club only want a goalkeeper to compete with Alphonse Areola—not replace him as the new No.1. Shocking!
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Hermansen and Suzuki both want guaranteed first-choice roles, while Victor—presumably—is happy to take on the Łukasz Fabiański role and sit on the bench if required.
I don’t doubt for a moment that Ex is simply passing along what he’s been told, but the whole charade feels like a mess.
Goalkeeper John Victor is the cheap option
Penny pinching move is taking fans for fools
This has nothing to do with ambition—it’s about cost-cutting. Graham Potter’s top two choices were valued at £25m and £30m respectively, but West Ham appear to be settling for someone at a third of that price. You’d have to be a fool to believe that this signing had anything to do with getting the best goalkeeper available. John Victor could well be a half decent keeper but expecting fans to swallow the narrative that he’s been signed for competition rather than money takes the fans for fools.
What’s worse is the implied acceptance that Areola remains our first-choice goalkeeper. If true, it suggests that the club’s hierarchy is more concerned with cost than competitiveness—and that’s incredibly worrying.
We’re not just sacrificing the chance to sign two outstanding prospects—we’re also risking playing Areola in a key position when he is clearly unsuited to the managers wish for a keeper who is good with his feet.
Brian Clough once said a good goalkeeper is worth 10 points a season. I fear this move could cost us that and more.