There’s claims in the Brazilian press that West Ham United are once again pushing for Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor, and this time the Premier League side may be closer to a deal.
It’s still very early in the season, but West Ham seem keen not to let a wobbly start between the posts turn into a full-blown crisis.
With the transfer window still open, they may be trying to fix things before they get worse – or simply take advantage of the fact that John’s situation at Botafogo never fully settled, eyeing a winter move.
Either way, according to respected TV Globo reporter Marcelo Courrege, West Ham reopened talks with John following the poor early-season form of Mads Hermansen.
The Danish keeper, signed this summer for £18m, conceded eight goals in his first two appearances and was benched in their Carabao Cup tie against Wolves.
While initial talks between the clubs earlier this month led to a collapsed €10m transfer, the new approach suggests a different structure is now being explored. This time, West Ham are reportedly considering a loan deal with a purchase option.
The ripple effect has already reached Botafogo’s squad decisions. A separate negotiation to loan out backup goalkeeper Léo Linck to Saudi side Al-Najma has been put on hold, as per Globo Esporte.
Linck had received an offer for a season-long loan and was left out of the squad for recent matches, but with John potentially heading to London, the club have frozen his departure.
In the meantime, Botafogo have already brought in experienced keeper Neto. His signing offers insurance in case John leaves, specially considering the former Bournemouth and Arsenal keeper is making a good start to his spell in Rio de Janeiro.
The situation is once again fluid, and the door to the Premier League appears open again, even after John’s unexpected u-turn last month.