West Ham make formal €8m move for Brazilian goalkeeper John Victor | OneFootball

West Ham United have submitted a formal bid worth €8m (£6.9m) for Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Brazilian shot-stopper has emerged as a key transfer target for the Hammers, who are seeking competition for Alphonse Areola ahead of the new Premier League season.

The 29-year-old only joined Botafogo in January 2024 but has quickly established himself as a first-team regular.

He was widely praised for his performances at the Club World Cup this summer and has reportedly caught the attention of several European clubs.

West Ham have now made their move official, tabling a concrete offer to the Brazilian club. However, no response has yet been received.

Victor is a physically commanding presence between the sticks and a potential long-term replacement for Lukasz Fabianski, who left West Ham at the end of last season.

While Areola remains the current number one, there have been concerns about his form, and manager Graham Potter is looking to strengthen key areas of the squad.

The Hammers have already added full-backs El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters, but a new goalkeeper remains a priority.

Victor’s career record includes 84 appearances and 36 clean sheets for Botafogo, in addition to previous spells at Santos, Internacional and Real Valladolid.

West Ham are not the only club circling, with Everton, Galatasaray and Manchester United all linked with the Brazilian in recent weeks.

Everton are still searching for a reliable option following Jordan Pickford’s fluctuating form, while Galatasaray are keen to strengthen for their Champions League campaign.

West Ham have also held talks over a potential deal for Parma’s Zion Suzuki and maintain interest in Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen.

A bid has reportedly been lodged for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes, while the club remain open to offers for Lucas Paqueta following his recent clearance in the spot-fixing investigation.