The West Ham board have responded to mounting speculation the club are on the brink of sealing a sensational ‘imminent’ double deal.
Excitement is growing among fans and now the West Ham hierarchy have made their stance clear to Hammers News.
West Ham are on the hunt for their fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
But could a fifth be following closely behind?
That’s the big question being asked in West Ham circles just over one week away from the start of the new Premier League season.
The Hammers completed the free agent signing of striker Callum Wilson last weekend.
A large section of West Ham fans reacted angrily to the controversial move.
Hammers linked with midfielder, forward and goalkeepers
Since then it has emerged the Hammers are also pushing to sign young Metz striker Idrissa Gueye – which would appease many as it would give Graham Potter different options for the present and future.
Gueye is a Senegal teammate of Potter’s first summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf, who has been extremely impressive since his £19m move from Slavia Prague.
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Versatile full-back Kyle Walker-Peters is also seen as a savvy addition by West Ham given he can play both sides and provide cover for Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka when they go to the African Nations mid-season.
Signing at least one top new midfielder is a major target for West Ham in the three weeks or so that remain of the summer window.
Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey has been strongly linked.
West Ham head coach Graham Potter celebrates on the touchline
Credit: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Ideally the Hammers would sign a new centre-back with serious doubts over all four of their current incumbents Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Hammers News exclusively revealed West Ham had made signing a goalkeeper their top priority last week.
West Ham have been linked with a number of stoppers from Japan and Parma’s Zion Suzuki, Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper, Leicester City’s Danish international Mads Hermansen, Botafogo’s John Victor and Werder Bremen’s Michael Zetterer.
Signing a new goalkeeper was always on the cards for the Hammers since Potter ruthlessly released veteran Lukasz Fabianski.
West Ham board respond to talk of ‘imminent’ double deal
Many felt long-serving Fabianski deserved a new one-year deal and that he was a better option than the error-prone Alphonse Areola.
The Frenchman, who has been linked with Espanyol, has been particularly poor since Potter’s arrival in east London.
That has continued into pre-season, heightening West Ham’s need to sign a new long-term number one.
But Hammers supporters have been left confused by intense speculation the Hammers are about to bring in not one but TWO new goalkeepers.
Now the West Ham board have responded to talk they’re on verge of a simply sensational ‘imminent’ double deal.
Split image showing Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor and Leicester City ace Mads Hermansen
Credit: Wanderson Colino/Eurasia Sport Images/Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
In mid-June, Hammers News revealed West Ham’s number one goalkeeper target was 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.
The Foxes have been trying to get as much money as possible for the 25-year-old, though, with the Hammers baulking at their original £20-30m valuation, which also reportedly put off the likes of Man United.
This week journalist Henry Winter and a host of other leading sources claimed West Ham had made a breakthrough in talks for Hermansen.
Now ExWHUemployee is claiming West Ham are closing in on the £18m signing of their prime target Hermansen.
But the news comes as reports in Brazil claim Victor is also on the cusp of joining the Hammers.
So close in fact that his manager Davide Ancelotti has today publicly said goodbye to Victor and thanked the 29-year-old for his service ahead of the move to the London Stadium.
West Ham react to claims they’re signing Hermansen and Victor
Are West Ham looking to sign both goalkeepers in a stunning twist – perhaps with plans to sell £120k per week Areola in the background?
Hammers News has put the big question to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.
The response was emphatic and brief.
Asked whether there was a possibility West Ham will be signing two goalkeepers given the claims that deals for Hermansen and Victor are close, the senior Hammers spokesman responded: “NO!” in capitals for added emphasis.
There you have it West Ham fans, it won’t be a case of Hermansen AND Victor arriving at the club.
Many Hammers supporters are hoping it will be Hermansen as it has been widely reported he is Potter and Kyle Macaulay’s choice.
Whereas, it is felt by many that David Sullivan may be pushing the cheaper Brazilian deal after Hammers News exclusively revealed super agent Willie McKay was pushing Victor to West Ham.