Mads Hermansen, Zion Suzuki, Michael Zetterer and John Victor; It’s fair to say West Ham United’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper has not been short of twists and turns.
Last week, it emerged from Denmark that Leicester City ace Hermansen had agreed personal terms with the London Stadium outfit.
In the days since then, however, Hammers News were informed that Parma were considering West Ham’s offer for the £30 million-rated [and the rest] Zion Suzuki.
Reports out of Germany claimed that a £4.3 million bid had been launched for Werder Bremen’s Michael Zetterer, in addition to a couple of offers for John Victor of Botafogo, while the Hermansen deal has seen more ‘on and offs’ than Rachel and Ross’ entire relationship.
⚒️ West Ham have submitted a bid for Werder Bremen goalkeeper Michael Zetterer (30/🇩🇪). The last offer was below Bremen’s €5m valuation. Zetterer is under contract until 2027 but he’s up for sale.
Werder see big potential in 21 y/o Mio Backhaus and believe he could become…
— Patrick Berger (@berger_pj) August 5, 2025
View Tweet
So, what now? Who do West Ham United sign, if any, of the aforementioned quartet?
Hermansen was the first-choice target as recently as July, but does he still sit at the top of the tree today? And, after Lukasz Fabianski said his goodbyes, is there a chance that the West Ham United bring in a clear, expensive number one – a la Hermansen or Suzuki – alongside a more affordable back-up, see John Victor or Michael Zetterer?
The only certainty, right now, is that John Victor will not be featuring during Botafogo’s Copa do Brazil clash with Red Bull Bragantino on Wednesday night.
West Ham United linked goalkeeper John Victor during Atletico Mineiro v Botafogo: Final - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2024
Photo by Pool Pelaez Burga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
John Victor out of Botafogo squad as West Ham United close in
Botafogo coach Davide Ancelotti had indicated that John Victor was ready to start again between the sticks in midweek.
But that was before Fabrizio Romano broke the news that West Ham had reached a verbal agreement on an £8.5 million deal for the giant 29-year-old.
Suddenly, despite Ancelotti’s earlier confidence – there are no prizes for guessing the identity of the former Real Madrid assistant’s father, by the way – it appears that John Victor might have pulled on the Botafogo goalkeeping jersey for the last time.
He was nowhere to be seen when Botafogo announced their matchday squad for that Red Bull Bragantino clash. There are three shot-stoppers in Ancelotti’s roster, but none of those are 2024 Serie A and Copa Libertadores champion John Victor.
As mentioned earlier, it remains uncertain what role John Victor will have at the London Stadium.
Competition for Alphonse Areola? Graham Potter’s new number one? Or, perhaps, a back-up for a more expensive acquisition, be it Hermansen or Suzuki.
Of course, a potential departure of Areola would clear things up a little. But, barring links with Espanyol earlier in the window, the one-time Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain glovesman appears to have very few options outside of the London Stadium.
West Ham corner flag - West Ham United v Newcastle United - Premier League
Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
‘Phenomenal’ Botafogo goalkeeper gets Premier League chance
John Victor was jeered by the Botafogo fans during what is likely to be his final appearance for the club, in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Cruzeiro. If the supporters were already upset about his impending departure, the error Victor made to gift the opponents an oh-so avoidable goal didn’t help matters.
“I don’t agree with fans booing because the player is leaving,” former Brazil international Felipe Melo argued, John Victor giving new meaning to Botafogo’s ‘Lone Star’ nickname as he was singled out by his own so-called fans.
“They booed before [the game].
“Booing because John made a mistake, fine, it’s part of it. Football is passionate. Now, booing the player because he wants to leave to play in Europe? And another thing; He’s not leaving for free. West Ham will pay. It’s not just good for him, it’s good for Botafogo too.”
South American expert Nathan Joyce, meanwhile, believes John Victor ‘deserves’ a shot at the Premier League after four largely impressive years with Estrela Solitaria.
“Great to see John Victor getting recognition after a phenomenal period with Botafogo,” Joyce wrote on X. “Deserves a chance at a higher level if it comes his way.”