According to a report in the Mirror, West Ham United could be set to offload goalkeeper Roberto just months after signing him. The 33-year-old joined the Londoners from Espanyol in July on a free transfer and has conceded 12 goals in his six league appearances.
Despite his poor performances, the club’s Director of Football, Mario Husillos, is adamant Roberto is a Premier League standard goalkeeper and it’s understood he and Manuel Pellegrini wanted the Spanish keeper as their number one before the club signed Lukasz Fabianski.
The Polish goalkeeper is set to return to action in January and in the eyes of the clubs supporters, his return likely cannot come soon enough.
TIF Tactics – A goalkeeper of vast experience
Roberto, to date, has played in Spain, Greece and Portugal. The shot-stopper won three consecutive Championships with Greek giants Olympiacos and a Greek Cup. During his time in Portugal, he lifted a Domestic Cup with Benfica and he has an abundance of experience.
Although he boasts an impressive resume, his performances in a West Ham shirt have been anything but inspiring and his display at Turf Moor may well have sealed his fate. Husillos, in particular, has a strong relationship with the player but unless his performances improve he will be putting his own reputation at risk.
In fact, his recent performances will have hardly made any of the West Ham faithful be filled with confidence, especially if he was targeted to be the number one. Whilst Fabianski was sensational last season (making the most saves in the Premier League and being named the Hammer of the Year for his efforts), Roberto has looked anything-but with his displays.
According to statistics compiled by WhoScored, the experienced 33-year-old has gone on to make 30 saves in his six top-flight appearances, with 17 of them having had to been made from efforts within the penalty area – which suggests the defence has not been solid enough for him either.
The international break gives Pellegrini and his staff the opportunity to step away from the spot-light temporarily and re-strategise but if he is to stop the rot he will need his experienced goalkeeper to vastly improve and fast, otherwise, Husillos’ reputation could be on the line let alone anything else.