West Ham have seen a proposed deal collapse for the second time with the Hammers quickly shifting their focus to a new target for Graham Potter.
- Hammers News exclusive
After being scared into action by the club’s worst ever start to a Premier League season, West Ham have hit the transfer panic button this week.
An unprecedented flurry of bids for targets numbering in the double digits is making for an exciting and chaotic end to West Ham’s summer transfer window.
The Hammers have announced the arrival of top midfield target Mateus Fernandes from Southampton for a total package of around £41m.
Fernandes had his West Ham medical alongside another top target, Soungoutou Magassa.
West Ham deal collapses for second time
But that deal was delayed due to a technical issue with the Monaco midfielder’s medical, which meant it had to be retaken.
That opened the door for Eintracht Frankfurt – West Ham’s Europa League semi-final foes – to swoop and try to sign him instead.
It appeared West Ham had fought off that challenge but another day passed on Thursday with no announcement and it was revealed Frankfurt tried to snatch Magassa away from the Hammers for a second time overnight.
There was good news from a number of journalists, though, when it was claimed West Ham had fought off the late hijack attempt to seal the signing of the France Under 21 star.
The Hammers are also said to be trying to sign a goalkeeper, defender and striker.
But a West Ham deal has collapsed for a second time and attention now turns to a new target.
Before the Irons signed Mads Hermansen for £15m from Leicester they had Brazilian stopper John Victor waiting at the airport with his bags packed.
The 29-year-old Botafogo ‘keeper had said his goodbyes to his teammates and his manager, Davide Ancelotti, had even publicly stated he was leaving for east London.
Hammers News revealed the deal was presented to West Ham by super agent Willie Mackay and was a much cheaper option than Hermansen.
After a nightmare start to his Hammers career, many argued Victor would have been the better option too.
Reason why West Ham’s new John Victor deal is off
But Victor was left waiting at the airport and returned to Botafogo with his dream of playing in the Premier League shattered.
Hermansen’s start to life in east London has been so alarming, though, that West Ham reignited the move this week.
When Alphonse Areola came in for Hermansen and made two glaring errors in the 3-2 cup defeat at Wolves, the Hammers pressed to get the Victor move done.
Word emerging from Brazil was that although he was disappointed with West Ham’s actions, he was still open to the move and confident he could become the club’s number one.
A deal was put together for a loan with an obligation to buy if Victor played 25 games.
But Hammers News can reveal it has collapsed again – this time over the actual deal itself.
West Ham turn attentions to new target Pandur
A top transfer source with knowledge of the deal has exclusively revealed to Hammers News that Sullivan was led to believe by agents that an initial loan deal could be done for £800k.
But the reality was Botafogo wanted £8-10m outright.
“I am told John Victor not happening and I am told he is heading elsewhere,” the leading transfer source told Hammers News.
“Not sure which club but the hunch is one of the Turkish sides.
“Sullivan believed the agent and the deal is wrong, Botafogo wanted 10-15m Euro – not 1 million Euro.
“The new West Ham deals proposed were turned down out of hand by Botafogo.”
That has seen the Hammers turn their attentions to Hull City’s highly-rated Croatian goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
According to reports in Italy and an update from Sky Sports journalist Ben Heckner, West Ham are in ‘concrete talks’ with Pandur.
It is claimed discussions are ongoing between the Hammers and Hull with a deal very much possible before Monday’s deadline day.
Like Hermansen, Pandur is 25-years-old but is slightly taller at 6ft 2in.
Pandur has played in Italy and Holland and is a former Croatia Under 21 international but is yet to earn a senior cap.
Last season was the best of Pandur’s career, though.
The Hammers target swept the board at Hull’s end of season awards, winning the Tigers’ player of the year, players’ player of the year and supporters’ player of the year honours.
