West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santoplaceholder image
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo | Getty Images
West Ham are currently battling to preserve their Premier League status this season - but are already planning for the summer transfer window.
West Ham are interested in Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur this summer, according to Italian news outlet TuttoMercato. The Hammers are being linked with a swoop for the Championship stopper in the next transfer window, although Torino have also been mentioned as potential suitors.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are currently fighting for their lives in the Premier League. They are inside the drop zone along with Burnley and Wolves with seven fixtures left to play and they are a point from safety behind Tottenham Hotspur after losing 2-0 against Aston Villa before the international break. That doesn’t seem to be preventing them from looking ahead to the summer, however, with Pandur seemingly on their shortlist...
West Ham target Ivor Pandur at Hull City
West Ham seemingly see Pandur as an option to bolster their goalkeeping department, regardless of what league they are in next season. His contract at Hull expires in June 2027, although the Tigers hold an option to extend his stay at the MKM Stadium by a further 12 months. He has been their number one over the past two campaigns, with his performances attracting growing interest from top-level sides.
Pandur, 25, joined up with the East Yorkshire club back in January 2024 under their ex-boss Liam Rosenior, who is now in charge at Chelsea. However, he initially played second fiddle to Ryan Allsop before he became the first choice at the start of the 2024/25 term under Tim Walter. He has since made 83 appearances in all competitions.
Hull are eyeing promotion to the top flight and are in the play-offs with Ipswich Town, Millwall and Southampton. Therefore, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that they could swap positions with West Ham, a situation which would surely scotch any hope of a deal. They won’t want to lose Pandur anytime soon, but may well be compelled to cash in should they remain in the Championship.
Who is West Ham transfer target Ivor Pandur?
Pandur, who has been called up by the Croatia national team on a handful of occasions now, started his career at Rijeka. He rose up through the academy of his local side and represented them at various different youth levels. The ‘keeper then broke into their first-team as a teenager before Hellas Verona lured him over to Italy.
He played only 11 matches during his time in Serie A though and was shipped out on loan to Fortuna Sittard on loan before his switch to Holland was later made permanent. He subsequently emerged on the radar of Hull and they then made their move. Pandur hasn’t looked back since and he is now one of the Tigers’ most prized assets.
West Ham can’t think too deeply about their recruitment plans for the summer as they don’t know what league they will be in. Pandur is someone who could be a shrewd pick-up by the Hammers though no matter what division they are in. If he joined, he would provide them with more competition and cover in goal.
Nuno’s side are back in action on Sunday 5 April against Leeds United in the FA Cup quarter-finals. A place at Wembley in the semi-finals awaits the winner of that tie. They then take on Wolves at home in the league on 10 April.
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