Fakayejo Paul
London, UK – West Ham United are in the “key stages” of a deal to sign goalkeeper John Victor from Botafogo, following up on the official bid that was exclusively revealed last week.
The Hammers are now actively discussing the transfer fee and deal structure with the Brazilian club, as both parties work to finalize the transfer.
Reports indicate that John wants the move to the Premier League and has communicated his desire to Botafogo’s management to sanction the transfer.
This is a significant boost for West Ham, who are looking to secure a new goalkeeper to provide competition for Alphonse Areola, especially with Lukasz Fabianski having left the club.
West Ham’s initial bid for the 29-year-old goalkeeper was reportedly around €8 million (£7m), which was rejected.
However, a follow-up offer of approximately €10 million (£8.7m) is believed to be under discussion and has a higher chance of being accepted.
West Ham’s pursuit of John comes after the club’s board reportedly deemed other targets, such as Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen and Parma’s Zion Suzuki, as “too ambitious” due to their high valuations.
John is considered a more financially viable option for the club.
The move for John is being driven by West Ham’s coaching staff, who have identified him as a solid addition to the squad.
While some fans have expressed concern, reports from Brazil suggest he is highly rated and would be a strong competitor for the number one spot.
The coming days will be crucial as both clubs work to iron out the final details of the deal.