You just know that Nottingham Forest were waiting to unveil the signing of John Victor on Sunday evening looking to rub West Ham United’s noses in it.
Had all gone to plan, Forest would have vanquished Graham Potter’s side at the City Ground before officially confirming the arrival of a Brazilian goalkeeper who had come so close to joining the Hammers a couple of weeks before.
Of course, things didn’t quite work out like that.
While John Victor was unveiled by Nottingham Forest on Sunday, that came after West Ham United had scored three goals in the final ten minutes to stun their shellshocked hosts.
And, on a day when Kyle Walker-Peters, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Callum Wilson and Crysencio Summerville all produced their best performances for the Hammers, Mads Hermansen kept a first clean sheet.
While Hermansen was always Graham Potter’s first-choice, the manager backed up by head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay and new goalkeeping coach Casper Ankergren, West Ham held advanced discussions over John Victor too.
Now, having put pen to paper on the banks of the Trent instead, for a reported fee of £7 million, South American expert Tim Vickery believes that Nottingham Forest’s gain could be West Ham’s loss.
Tim Vickery explains what Nottingham Forest are getting in former West Ham United target John Victor
Though, if you asked Potter, he’d probably take the three points over another goalkeeper anyway.
Hammers News were informed by chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey that talks between West Ham and Botafogo broke down due to a lack of clarity over the finances involved in a potential deal.
A few weeks later, and with Hermansen’s dreadful start leading to plenty of flip-flopping and hand-wringing, West Ham returned to Botafogo with a loan bid, only to discover that the reigning Copa Libertadores had no intention of green-lighting a temporary arrangement.
So after Nottingham Forest signed Douglas Luiz, James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson in the blinking of an eye, another player with admirers in East London made a City Ground switch of his own.
“[Nottingham Forest] are getting a terrific goalkeeper. A really good goalkeeper,” Vickery tells talkSPORT.
There are obvious similarities between John and Carlos Miguel, another giant Brazilian goalkeeper who moved to East Midlands. The 6ft 9ins colossus played only three times before returning home with Palmeiras, however, his most memorable moment a howler against Exeter City in the FA Cup.
“They had a Brazilian back-up last year, Carlos Miguel, who didn’t get many opportunities, didn’t cover himself in glory, and moved back to Brazil,” Vickery adds.
“[But] John is much better, much more experienced. He’s lithe, flexible, could easily be in the Brazil squad. That is someone that is going to put pressure on [Forest number one] Matz Sels.”
Mads Hermansen hoping to build on City Ground success
Hammers News can confirm that West Ham approached Sheffield Wednesday’s Pierce Charles too. Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur was linked as well in the final few days of the window, while Manchester United misfit Andre Onana was offered after losing his spot in Ruben Amorim’s XI.
With the deadline now passed, West Ham will just be hoping that Hermansen can build on what was a confidence-boosting clean sheet at the City Ground.
“It’s definitely a lovely afternoon here in Nottingham!” Hermansen smiled, in conversation with the official Hammers website. “We’re just happy to finally get on the board, both with a clean sheet and three goals, three points. It’s an amazing feeling.
“I think it was a pretty decent performance from everyone, from the team. We defended really, really well. We only allowed them a few crosses, a few shots on goal from positions where we could handle it. So, overall, I’m just really, really happy with the performance.
“As we spoke about in the dressing room, I think we still have so much more to give as a group, quality-wise on the ball. So, we will definitely take our team performances to a higher level.”
