Middlesbrough FC & West Ham eye late Ivor Pandur deal - one club ready to pay Hull City £5m | OneFootball

One of the Tigers' standout performers could be on the move late in the window

Middlesbrough and West Ham United are two clubs readying a late transfer move for Hull City goalkeeper, Ivor Pandur.

The Tigers' goalkeeper has been one of the club's most consistent performers since being handed his Championship bow by former boss, Tim Walter, at the beginning of last season, leading to transfer interest from English sides as well as top-flight clubs across Europe.

Hull's own transfer window has been extremely difficult, with the club handed a transfer window fee restriction in July following late payments - a punishment which was reduced from three windows down to two by the EFL last week - with the governing body subsequently keeping a watchful eye on business at the MKM Stadium following the appointment of Sergej Jakirovic.

City's unbeaten start in the league under the Bosnian came to an abrupt end at the hands of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon amid illness within the camp, and they will now be bracing themselves for interest in Pandur's services ahead of the upcoming clash with Bristol City at Ashton Gate and next Monday's 7PM transfer deadline.

Pandur was recruited by the Tigers in January 2024 under Liam Rosenior for £1.5m, with one of the reasons for the now-Strasbourg boss' dismissal in East Yorkshire four months later reportedly down to disagreements with Acun Ilicali regarding the Croatian's omission from the starting lineup behind Ryan Allsop.

Since being handed his competitive bow against Bristol City last August, the 25-year-old has continuously proven his worth as one of the division's best shot-stoppers, and his return of six clean sheets and overall play was a key reason behind Hull's final-day survival last season on goal difference.

Pandur, who scooped three awards in Hull's 'End of Season' ceremony - including Player of the Year - was the subject of interest from Parma in June, before it was reported earlier this month that Middlesbrough, who have also acquired Alfie Jones from the Tigers this window - had the Croatian on their transfer shortlist amid injury issues concerning Seny Dieng.

It was later reported by Sky Deutschland that Pandur was offered to Werder Bremen amid claims that City had set a "single-digit-million" asking price for one of their prized assets, and it has now emerged how much Boro are willing to pay for his services.

Just weeks after Nixon reported that City were readying contract action for the man reportedly happy at the MKM, the transfer guru has now revealed that Rob Edwards' side would be willing to part with up to £5m for his services, although it is also claimed that Pandur hasn't yet been swayed that it is the ideal time for him to leave Hull.

Italian outlet, TuttoMercato, also claimed on Wednesday that West Ham view the former Under-21 international as a potentially younger alternative to compete with £20m recruit Mads Hermansen for the starting berth at the London Stadium after the Dane and Alphonse Areola shipped 11 goals in the Hammers' opening trio of Premier League and EFL Cup encounters against Sunderland, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Hull City must snub all Ivor Pandur transfer moves at this stage of the summer transfer window

Amid the pending arrival of Bosnian midfielder, Amir Hadžiahmetović, it had been claimed by Hull Live that the Tigers are unlikely to conduct any great amounts of further business due to their limitations as a result of EFL sanctions, meaning the hierarchy must snub any late transfer moves for Pandur.

Understandably, a move to West Ham would normally be a head-turner, and whilst the Croatian has continuously shown his future top-flight potential, the current environment and goalkeeping predicament in East London makes it hard to see how he would sample regular gametime from the off, especially after Graham Potter parted with a significant eight-figure fee for Hermansen.

Pandur, though, is seemingly in no rush to leave East Yorkshire at this moment in time, and if he remains between the sticks at the MKM post-September 1st, his rapport with City supporters will only increase tenfold and provide a major boost to their prospects for the remainder of the season.

Hull are also increasingly short on depth and experience in the goalkeeping department beyond the Croatian and Dillon Phillips, with the likes of Harvey Cartwright and Thimothee Lo-Tutala currently on loan at Hartlepool United and Doncaster Rovers respectively.