West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee has given his thoughts on what the club will do regarding the goalkeeping situation this summer.
West Ham United have got a big decision to come in the summer when it comes to the goalkeeper position.
Current No 1 Lukasz Fabianski will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign, and with his deputy Alphonse Areola only here on loan, the club could be looking for someone new to stand between the sticks.
There was some interest in signing West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone last summer, and speaking on the latest edition of The West Ham Way podcast, Ex discussed how the deal for Areola came about, hinting that it was a tight race between both him and Johnstone as to who would be brought in.
He also explained how Johnstone’s impending free agency and the likelihood of Fabianski staying affects things, stating how he felt the goalkeeper position at the London Stadium would shape up over the summer.
He said: “So looking at all of those factors, it might indicate and it’s only an indication, it’s not based upon anything, there’s no pre-contract agreement with the club. I would suggest that probably given the fact that Fabianski is going to stay for another year, I would suggest that Johnstone will be signed and Areola will leave. But that’s just my opinion. That is not factual, that is my opinion.
“I know that it was between him and Areola. And for a large part of the summer, it looked like it was going to be Johnstone and then it suddenly shifted because Johnstone was gonna be about £7m or £8m I think, and then it suddenly shifted to Areola again on loan.
“And then if it then shifts to Johnstone on a free transfer it seems like this has all been pre-planned I would suggest. It’s not ITK, it’s not factual, that’s just a gut instinct based upon how much I know.”
TIF Thoughts on ExWHUemployee’s comments about Sam Johnstone, Alphonse Areola and West Ham United…
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If how Ex has assessed the situation is right, it comes across as a rather smart set of moves for West Ham United to make.
It would essentially be one goalkeeper out and one goalkeeper in with Areola and Johnstone respectively, in a move that wouldn’t cost them a transfer fee, and then if they can sign Fabianski to another deal, he can slot in to be a reliable veteran backup behind Johnstone who you would assume would take on the No 1 role.
And the money that they will save in terms of not having to spend on a goalkeeper – with reports suggesting Areola would cost West Ham United as much as £11m – could instead be used to bolster other areas of the squad, such as a potential replacement for departing captain Mark Noble.
In other news: ‘Looks like he will remain at West Ham’ – Ex drops player update after ‘no contact’