The path now looks clear for West Ham to land their third summer signing after Fabrizio Romano confirmed a deal is on in a transfer update.
West Ham’s transfer window was awoken from its slumber this week when exciting young wingback El Hadji Malick Diouf arrived from Slavia Prague.
The controversial sale of Mohammed Kudus brought in £54.5m for Graham Potter’s much-needed rebuild.
Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay are playing catch-up after a completely stagnant first seven weeks of the extended summer window.
But it seems the Hammers are determined to make up for lost time.
Hot on the heels of signing Diouf in a deal worth up to £23m, West Ham are set to unveil another full-back as their second signing.
An 11th hour swoop from West Ham stopped Kyle Walker-Peters joining Besiktas.
Potter gives his West Ham rebuild wingbacks
The Turkish giants had already announced the imminent capture of the free agent following his release by Southampton.
But they were forced to backtrack after Walker-Peters informed them he was joining West Ham instead.
The Hammers are expected to unveil the 28-year-old on a three-year deal in the coming days as cover for Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Attentions have turned to further additions with the full-back area sorted, possibly for years to come.
Midfield needs a major overhaul.
As a result Potter has told one West Ham midfielder he can find a new club.
It comes as the Hammers push to try and sign two new midfielders with Harvey Elliott, Tyler Morton and Mateus Fernandes among the targets.
Potter also wants a new centre-back, at least one striker – if not two – and a goalkeeper.
With Diouf signed and Walker-Peters set to be announced as West Ham’s second new arrival, there are developments which could mean another is very much on the cards.
A third West Ham signing is now surely on the way as Fabrizio Romano says ‘deal on’.
The transfer insider has delivered a new update which suggests the Hammers are close to sealing a move for a top Potter’s target in a key position.
Make no mistake West Ham are in the market for a new goalkeeper.
Potter elected to release veteran Lukasz Fabianski despite many believing he had another season left in him.
Third West Ham signing in offing as Romano says ‘deal on’
Alphonse Areola is now the only proven, Premier League quality goalkeeper in the Hammers squad.
And there are doubts over the Frenchman’s own future as he has struggled to convince since becoming West Ham’s number one.
Areola also earns a whopping £120k per week, meaning the Hammers would be open to offers for the ex PSG man, with Espanyol linked.
West Ham missed out on reported targets Djorde Petrovic and Caoimhín Kelleher to Bournemouth and Brentford respectively.
Another goalkeeper the Hammers have held talks about, Robert Sanchez, looks set to stay at Chelsea after winning the trust of Enzo Maresca.
Noah Atubolu and Aaron Ramsdale have also been linked with moves to east London.
But Leicester City’s young Dane Mads Hermansen is the name which has emerged as Potter’s number one goalkeeper target.
Hammers News reported that incoming new lead goalkeeper coach Casper Ankergren advised West Ham to try and sign Leicester stopper Hermansen.
Ankergren oversaw Hermansen’s development at Brondby.
And ex-Denmark international Peter Kjaer seemed to have some inside information at the start of the summer window.
Kjaer tipped Leicester goalkeeper Hermansen for a move to West Ham following the Foxes’ relegation.
The 25-year-old has been confirmed as a target by top club sources.
Hammers News previously revealed West Ham would ideally prefer a loan with obligation to buy in order to kick the can down the road in terms of paying Hermansen’s reported £20m fee.
That’s to save transfer cash for other positions where possible.
West Ham dropped a major hint that Hermansen could be their goalkeeper signing after naming him in Ankergren’s announcement.
Path clears for West Ham to sign Hermansen
Now there has been another big clue Hermansen could be on his way to east London.
Because in an exclusive update, Romano has revealed Leicester are on the verge of signing his replacement.
The Foxes are closing in on signing veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Romano says ‘contract terms are being discussed’ and that the ‘deal is on’.
With Leicester lining up Begovic almost certainly points to the relegated Foxes planning for Hermansen’s departure.
Because Leicester already have 25-year-old Polish star Jakub Stolarczyk, a player the club rate highly and see as a potential number one in waiting.
So Begovic is either coming in as back-up to Stolarczyk or as the number one while they give the Pole more time to progress.
One thing that is certain is Leicester will not be accommodating three senior goalkeepers in the Championship – a luxury even the Hammers don’t have.
