Henry Winter and other leading football voices have revealed West Ham are on the verge of pulling off a transfer masterclass following an amazing overnight twist in the Mads Hermansen deal.
The dramatic development has put the Hammers in the driving seat for highly-rated goalkeeper Mads Hermansen – who has been targeted by Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay.
Back in mid-June, Hammers News revealed West Ham’s prime goalkeeper target was Leicester City’s Hermansen.
The news came as part of a report confirming plans to appoint Hermansen’s former Brondby coach Casper Ankergren, who was pushing for West Ham to make the move.
Leicester have been trying to get as much money as possible for the 25-year-old, though, with the Hammers baulking at the £20-30m valuation.
Hammers looked set to sign Brazilian Victor
As a result West Ham have looked at several alternatives from Zion Suzuki to Michael Cooper and, most recently, John Victor.
In another Hammers News exclusive last week, it was revealed super agent Willie McKay was pushing Victor to West Ham in a deal for half the price of Hermansen.
That same report also stated West Ham were increasingly ‘optimistic’ on Hermansen and Suzuki after further talks.
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However, West Ham appeared to be on the verge of signing Brazilian goalkeeper Victor from Botafogo as the big Premier League kick-off edges closer.
Victor’s social media activity after claims West Ham have agreed a deal suggested that reports he had given a move to east London the green light were on the money.
That has led to an angry backlash from some Hammers fans, though.
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
Majority owner David Sullivan has been under fire from supporters over the signing of Will Salthouse client Callum Wilson.
It has been claimed Wilson was forced on Potter and Macaulay given he is 34 next season and their stated transfer policy is to drive down the age of West Ham’s squad.
The move for Victor has been panned by some fans given he is 29 and has never been capped for Brazil.
And especially after Victor made a horrendous mistake in his latest game amid the West Ham links.
It is felt by some that Sullivan is going for the cheap deal instead of investing in a goalkeeper like Hermansen or Suzuki, who can be West Ham’s number one for years to come.
Winter confirms stunning Hermansen twist for West Ham
With the Victor move all but formally finalised, there has been a huge development.
Because a West Ham masterclass has been confirmed by Henry Winter and other top journalists after a stunning Hermansen twist.
West Ham’s owners revealed exciting news in a transfer update this week, stating: “We have lots of balls in the air,”
It seems the Hammers have used Victor – and bids for several other goalkeepers – to smoke Leicester out over a deal for Hermansen.
Because Winter, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook and Ben Jacobs, a respected Dutch journalist and Hammers insider ExWHUemployee are all saying the same thing – a deal is now very much on the cards for West Ham to sign Hermansen.
Mads Hermansen during Leicester City Pre-Season Training
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
“Positive dialogue continuing between West Ham and Leicester over Mads Hermansen,” Winter revealed last night.
“Personal terms in place.”
Jacobs and his talkSPORT colleague Alex Crook followed up Winter’s claim confirming their sources were telling them the same thing.
“West Ham are making a fresh push for Leicester City keeper Mads Hermansen despite agreeing a fee for Botafogo’s John Victor.
“Terms with Hermansen are in place, as Henry Winter called.”
🚨 West Ham are making a fresh push for Leicester City keeper Mads Hermansen despite agreeing a fee for Botafogo's John Victor.
Terms with Hermansen are in place, as @henrywinter called.🧤 https://t.co/PTffU3SmKw
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 5, 2025
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Hammers masterclass as Leicester smoked over Hermansen
Writing for Danish outlet Bold, journalist Daniel Nojsen says Sky Sports’ claim West Ham had ‘walked away’ from the Hermansen deal was wrong.
In fact, Nojsen states terms are now all agreed and Hermansen is now expected to join the Hammers to continue in the Premier League next season.
“Mads Hermansen is closing in on a move to West Ham,” Nojsen said on X alongside his Bold article.
“Earlier today, Sky Sports reported that the Premier League club had pulled out of negotiations due to the price tag, but positive dialogue is continuing.
“Personal terms are in place.”
ExWHUemployee also reported there had been ‘positive progress’ on a deal for Hermansen overnight.
If West Ham pull the move off then it will leave a lot of Hammers fans red-faced but over the moon.
It would also be one of the finest transfer masterclasses seen from West Ham in some time as they close in on signing number four.