In a recent report, Il Romanista mentioned that West Ham United are back in the race to recruit AS Roma keeper Robin Olsen this summer. It is understood that LOSC Lille has decided to pull out of the chase to sign the Swedish goalie which could open the door for him to join the Hammers during this summer transfer period (via Il Romanista).
Olsen’s Up and Down Loan Spell At Goodison Park
Olsen had a loan spell of mixed emotions at Everton last season when he got some valuable game time under his belt and managed to impress in patches as the Merseyside club’s second-choice keeper. The Malmo-born custodian featured in 11 matches for the Toffees in the previous campaign, shipping in 16 goals and earning three clean sheets in multiple competitions.
The Swedish goalie caught the eye by averaging 0.7 clearances and 6.4 long balls per game in Premier League football last season. However, his accuracy when distributing the ball left a lot to be desired as he completed just 65.9% of his attempted passes in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Olsen is an experienced campaigner at the highest level, so he could be a shrewd option for West Ham to consider in this off-season. Plus, he is good enough to fight for a regular starting spot at the London Stadium next season.
Is Olsen The Right Choice For The Hammers?
Olsen can use his experience well to read the danger quickly and is not afraid to clear his lines when the opposition are looking to threaten his goal. He has decent reflexes in his locker that allow him to make some fine saves at the back.
The Sweden international is quite good with his positioning and is a solid handler of the ball inside his half. Hence, he could fill the role of a valuable squad player at the London Stadium in the coming seasons.
Olsen is good enough to compete with Łukasz Fabiański for a spot in Moyes’ starting XI. Furthermore, he might serve as the perfect successor to the Polish keeper, who has just got a year left to run in his contract at East London. All in all, the AS Roma goalie will be a great choice for West Ham to pursue during this summer transfer period as he has what it takes to become a regular starter for them in Premier League football someday.
