Report: West Ham join Wolves in pursuit of £30m goalkeeper Rui Patricio

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Primeira Liga giants Sporting Lisbon don’t want to lose Rui Patricio but Premier League duo West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers are very keen.

The race is on to sign Portugal’s number one this summer.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio on Tuesday, newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen to add Rui Patricio to their growing band of Iberian stars this summer after cruising to the Championship title this season.

Sporting Lisbon have no desire to sell the 30-year-old shot-stopper but they may have no choice. Patricio has a release clause in his contract of around £30 million – and that fee is probably within reach for a Wolves side backed by Chinese billionaire investors.

But A Bola (9^th May, front page) are reporting that Patricio has another Premier League admirer in the shape of West Ham United.

The Hammers will need a new goalkeeper this summer with Joe Hart likely to return to parent club Manchester City and Adrian linked with a move back to Spain – though a deal for Patricio would surely stretch the London club’s transfer budget to its limit.

But Wolves should have an advantage with the Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes set to be at the heart of any potential move for the 68-time international goalkeeper.

Mendes has a close relationship with Wolves’ owners, Fosun International, and has brought Ruben Neves, Helder Costa, Ivan Cavaleiro and co to Molineux in the last couple of transfer windows.

If Patricio moves to England, he will be the second most expensive goalkeeper in Premier League history behind Manchester City’s Ederson Moraes.