West Ham could accept offer for summer signing after Nuno Espirito Santo snub
West Ham could be about to let goalkeeper Mads Hermansen leave for the continent just months after his arrival as he continues to sit on the bench behind Alphonse Areola.
Mads Hermansen joined West Ham from Leicester City in August for a reported fee of £20million [BBC], but he has failed to prove his worth so far with the East London outfit.
Hermansen struggled on his debut against Sunderland as he was immediately put on blast by Hammers fans, while he followed that up with another shaky showing against Chelsea.
Graham Potter stuck by him before eventually being sacked, but Nuno Espirito Santo has not handed a single minute of game-time to the Dane since his September arrival.
Alphonse Areola has been impressive in between the sticks under Nuno recently, and so Hermansen could soon depart one capital for another in January with a Serie A move potentially in the offing.
Mads Hermansen eyed by Lazio as Christos Mandas seeks exit
Italian newspaper Il Tempo (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) have reported that Italian giants Lazio are “targeting” Hermansen in the January window as they plan adjustments to their goalkeeping department.
Their usual second-choice stopper Christos Mandas is set to depart in the new year, with Parma eyeing a loan move, while clubs in the Premier League and La Liga are also tracking his services.
Hermansen is not the only target that Lazio have reportedly identified, however, with Filip Stankovic of Venezia and Lorenzo Palmisani of Frosinone both also believed to be on their radar.
What Nuno has said about Hermansen as he sits on West Ham bench
Hermansen has not made an appearance for West Ham since 13 September after he conceded 11 goals and kept just one clean sheet in his first four competitive games for the club.
West Ham resigned Lukasz Fabianski just days before that game amid early uncertainty around the Dane’s ability to be number one, but it is the Frenchman Areola who has stepped up to claim a starting place under Nuno so far.
Speaking back in October, the Portuguese boss insisted that Hermansen would be given a chance under him soon enough, saying: “We have seen a good and top professional goalkeeper [in Hermansen] who works, like many of his teammates.
“It was a decision that was made before our arrival, this change in the goalkeeper position, and we felt that, when we came to the club and had limited time, we had to continue with Alphonse.
“But all the players will get their chances. It’s a new start for all of them.”
The Denmark international is yet to be given his chance, and Areola has been pivotal to the Hammers’ recent upturn in form with particularly strong performances against Newcastle and Bournemouth.
It certainly seems likely that he continues in between the sticks for the rest of the calendar year, leaving Hermansen to possibly leave for more game-time in Italy.