Insider ExWHUemployee has stated that Alphonse Areola’s high wages could prevent West Ham United from signing him in the summer.
Ahead of this season, the 29-year-old joined the Hammers on an initial season-long loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain, with the option to make the transfer permanent.
Since them, Areola has proven himself as able back up to Lukasz Fabianski – playing in all but one game of the club’s impressive Europa League exploits – but he hasn’t been able to claim the number one shirt.
Will Alphonse Areola be at West Ham next season?
Yes
No
Ex has said that this could be an issue if West Ham want to sign him permanently, explaining that Areola’s high wages would likely make him the club’s highest paid player – which doesn’t make a lot of sense if he is to simply be the back up option.
Talking on The West Ham Way podcast, he said (53:29): “The manager likes Areola, it’s just that his wages are like £125,000 a week, which would mean he’d be the highest paid player by a significant amount – unless Declan [Rice] signs a new contract, which at this point isn’t looking likely – so he will be the highest paid player.
“And if he’s gonna still be backups to Fabianski possibly next year, then obviously you can’t pay your backup keeper the highest wage in the club.”
TIF thoughts on Alphonse Areola and West Ham..
As alluded to by Ex, key midfielder Rice looks set to refuse any new contract offers. If that is the case, or not, it still seems unlikely that West Ham are going to want to make Areola one of their highest-paid players when he isn’t even a regular starter.
Interestingly enough, Fabianski’s contract is set to come to an end this season, but David Moyes seems set to hand him a new deal, which would presumably mean he will stay as the number one option going into next season.
If Ex’s comments are true, it certainly sounds as if Moyes would want Areola at the club beyond his loan, but if the Frenchman can’t lower his demands, this deal might not happen.
And, with the West Bromwich Albion’s Sam Johnstone also linked – and likely to be a cheaper option – the London club may look elsewhere this summer.
In other news: ‘We believe that…’ – Ex reveals ‘source’ info in key West Ham injury update