Mads Hermansen has arrived at West Ham in a £20million move after being one of the few Leicester City players to emerge with any credit from last season's Premier League nightmare, and he has two major targets in his sights
New West Ham signing Mads Hermansen has set his sights on becoming Graham Potter’s first-choice keeper and dethroning Kasper Schmeichel as Denmark’s No.1.
The £20million arrival from Leicester City was unveiled to Hammers fans before Saturday’s pre-season draw with Lille, watching from the stands as Alphonse Areola saved two penalties in the post-match shoot-out. Hermansen, 25, knows playing in the Premier League and reuniting with West Ham goalkeeping coach Casper Ankergren, a fellow Dane he worked with at Brondby, can raise his international profile ahead of next summer’s World Cup in America.
Schmeichel, 38, is still first choice for Celtic and despite recent criticism and has no plans to stop playing international football, meaning Hermansen faces a fierce battle to take the shirt. The new Hammers stopper has represented his country at every age group since under 16 level and is determined to make the final step.
Hermansen said. “To represent Denmark. would be one of the biggest accomplishments of my career. So that's of course also a plus in going to West Ham and taking that step in my career that I can push for the spot in the national team.
”I felt a long time ago that West Ham and me could be a good match. I can definitely see myself playing in the way the team wants to. West Ham was a pretty easy choice.
“I've found a way to always progress and always develop and take all the right steps at the right time. First of all, I love to keep the ball out of the net and I think I'm quite good at creating relationships with the defenders, so we always have good communication.
“I worked a few years with [Ankergren] in Brondby and I can't wait to meet all the other keepers.”