Graham Potter continues to eye reinforcements to his West Ham squadplaceholder image
Graham Potter continues to eye reinforcements to his West Ham squad | Getty Images
West Ham United are looking to complete their next transfer deal ahead of the start of the Premier League season
West Ham United look to have won the race for Botafogo goalkeeper John with a verbal agreement reportedly struck to sign the player from the Brazilian outfit.
The Hammers released Lukasz Fabianski in June and have been left with a hole to fill in their goalkeeping department. The former Arsenal man made over 200 appearances for the Irons in a seven-year stint at the London Stadium.
The club still has Alphonse Areola in their ranks, with the 33-year-old Graham Potter’s first choice during the second half of last season. Now John looks close to joining the London club as they prepare to kick off their 2025-26 campaign at newly-promoted Sunderland on Saturday, August 16.
The Hammers have been warming up for the new campaign with games against Bournemouth, Everton and Manchester United in the United States. They beat Bournemouth and Everton, before losing narrowly to the Red Devils. They face Lille in their final pre-season outing on Saturday.
West Ham ‘reach verbal agreement’ for John
Giving an update on West Ham’s goalkeeper search, Fabrizio Romano reported: “West Ham reach verbal agreement to sign John as new goalkeeper from Botafogo. €10m package almost agreed with final details being sorted, John agreed terms and the deal is almost sealed. Documents being checked… and then, here we go.”
John stands at a towering 6ft 5in and helped Botafogo win the Brazilian league title and Copa Libertadores in 2024. He also featured at the Club World Cup and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win for the Brazilian side over European champions Paris Saint-Germain. He has a save percentage of 78.6 per cent from 34 games in 2024-25, keeping 16 clean sheets.
West Ham’s summer business so far
The Hammers have signed five players so far this summer, as Potter looks to put his mark on the squad in his first full campaign at the club. Jean-Clair Todibo has arrived on a permanent deal from Nice after spending last campaign on loan.
El Hadji Malick Diouf has completed a £19m move from Slavia Prague while Daniel Cummings has joined on a free after leaving Celtic. Kyle Walker-Peters has also joined on a free transfer after leaving Southampton while Callum Wilson has also joined for nothing on a heavily-incentivised contract following his exit from Newcastle United.
Asked recently if he was happy with the backing he had in the transfer marker, Potter said: “Yes, I don't see it in those ways, to be honest. I don't see it as backing me or not, it's about what's right for the club, the parameters that the club have to work in. I'm really happy with what we've done already, we'll always look to improve the team while the window's open, and if there's an opportunity to do that, we will."
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