Euro 2016 winner Rui Patricio – linked with the Hammers last summer – is reportedly set to leave Sporting CP this summer.
It’s been a turbulent season at West Ham United, with issues both on and off the pitch contributing to the Hammers being thrown into a relegation battle.
And one problem that has rumbled on throughout their disappointing campaign is the battle between goalkeepers Joe Hart and Adrian to hold down a regular starting spot in the Premier League.
David Moyes has juggled between the two stoppers but both have struggled to take advantage, with defender Pablo Zabaleta admitting to the Evening Standard that the situation “has not been easy for both goalkeepers”.
Moyes has insisted he will wait until the end of the season to make a decision on Manchester City loanee Hart’s future, meaning the saga could continue into the summer.
But Moyes’ decision could be made easier following reports that Portugal international Rui Patricio, who was linked with the Hammers last summer, is set to leave Sporting CP at the end of the season.
According to Portuguese daily newspaper Jornal De Noticias, the 30-year-old Euro 2016 winner is to leave the Estádio José Alvalade after 16 years at his boyhood club, and will be available for €15 million.
Agile, strong and an excellent shot stopper, Rui Patricio has kept a division-best 16 clean sheets in 32 Liga NOS matches, and also starred in Portugal’s European triumph two years ago, preventing four out of seven teams they faced from scoring. Not a bad record at all.
Another potential bonus is that the Portugal number one would command far less than Joe Hart’s reported weekly wage of £175,000, and would bring experience of over 460 domestic appearances, as well as 68 international caps.
But if West Ham do choose to look at Rui Patricio again they need to be quick – Gazetto dello Sport have reported that Serie A title-chasers Napoli are also interested in securing his signature.
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