Mads Hermansen handed much-needed lifeline after new West Ham transfer developments
Mads Hermansen’s West Ham career looked set to be over just six months after signing for £20million from Leicester City.
Hermansen is stuck on the bench at West Ham after a spell of disastrous performances at the start of the season under Graham Potter.
Mistakes in heavy defeats against Sunderland and Chelsea highlighted his sorry weaknesses, and Alphonse Areola swiftly regained his place in the team.
West Ham are interested in signing Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento, and have made an initial loan offer with an option to buy him for £10m.
Hermansen’s future in E20 is uncertain, but he may have just been handed a surprise lifeline.
Bento’s preference to join Genoa over West Ham is excellent for Mads Hermansen
David Sullivan has already splashed the cash in January, having spent £48m on Taty Castellanos and Pablo as the Hammers look to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Interest in Bento may come as a shock to West Ham fans, with Areola performing consistently in goal despite the Hammers’ poor defensive record under Nuno Espirito Santo.
However, he looks set to say no to the Irons, as Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the keeper prefers a move to Italy with Genoa, with a £5m loan move on the cards.
This means Hermansen would remain second-choice in the pecking order, and although he has been given another chance to fight for his place, it isn’t an ideal situation.
| Stat | Hermansen |
| Appearances | 4 |
| Goals conceded | 11 |
| Clean sheets | 1 |
| Save percentage | 45% |
Having a player in Hermansen who costs that much money and is sat on the bench less than six months after his arrival is an appalling look.
Therefore, the best option for all parties would be to send him out on loan, where he can regain some confidence and prove why the Hammers spent so much money on him.
Nuno clearly senses the need for an upgrade, but Bento‘s preference for a move to Italy will leave the Portuguese head coach scrambling for an alternative.
https://x.com/dimarzio/status/2008498722804781327?s=46&t=80eBcSAAQFzUvSfsAPcJgQSullivan’s track record of signing players for big fees is dreadful, but West Ham fans should feel gutted if the deal falls through for Bento.
Bento has what it takes to keep West Ham in the Premier League
The Brazilian goalkeeper has been excellent for Al-Nassr, and he helped his side record a third-placed finish in the Saudi Pro League in 2024-2025.
At 190cm tall, he won’t be bullied from set-pieces, and the Hammers are in desperate need of a shot-stopper that can command his box effectively.
Last season, he had a prevented xG of 5.23, keeping nine clean sheets with an impressive save percentage of 72.6 per cent.
Of course, Areola will feel unlucky that his displays haven’t convinced Nuno, but at this point, avoiding relegation is the number one priority.
If Bento were to snub Genoa in a surprising turn of events, West Ham would certainly be taking a step in the right direction by acquiring his services.
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