Fulham are ready to offer to rival West Ham in the race to sign Alphonse Areola by offering the French goalkeeper a return to Craven Cottage next season, according to various reports.
The Hammers hold an option to turn the 29 year old’s loan from Paris Saint Germain into a permanent deal at the end of the season, but since Areola has struggled to challenge Lukasz Fabianski for the number one slot at the London Stadium the likelihood of such a move has greatly diminished. The experienced Pole has reportedly agreed a new one-year deal with West Ham, who have also been credited with interest in West Brom’s Sam Johnstone.
Areola has made a single league appearance for David Moyes’ men since joining on loan last summer – with his other thirteen games coming in a combination of the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League, where he produced a splendid point-blank save to deny Youssef En-Nesyri to set up a quarter final meeting with Lyon. The former Real Madrid goalkeeper could be tempted by a return to SW6 having starred despite Fulham’s demotion from the Premier League last season.
The Whites are definitely in the market for a goalkeeper. The Sun linked them with England international Nick Pope over the weekend whilst Fulham have also enquired about the availability of Manchester United’s Dean Henderson. A move for Areola could see current number one Marek Rodak dropped after achieving promotion from the Championship for the second time.
Don’t think it’s a good move, has hardly played for West Ham. Was not bad for us last time but feel a bit overrated . Let a bad goal in at home v Man Utd and should never been beaten and near post Wolves at home. Not been first choice for many clubs.is he better than Rodak?
I just wish, for once, this club would commit to the Keeper that gets us promoted.
Rodak is clearly one of the best young GK’s in the country, let alone in the Championship and he should be given an opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League (assuming the wheels don’t come off this season).
What sort of motivation is it to openly let a player feel like if they perform well & the club are promoted, through their hard work, they will be immediately cast aside for a player that didn’t contribute to that?
Get the points re: Rodak but Areola was superb for us last time in the prem. Okay, he spilled a couple, but then so do 95% of keepers, that normally wouldn’t! Otherwise brilliant strikers occasionally miss open goals. Without Areola our goals against would have been much worse and with him between the sticks and Tosin and Andersen in harness, for a while, our defensive record was as good as City’s!