If a recent report from The Sun is to be believed, West Ham United want to permanently sign a deal with PSG’s shot-stopper Alphonse Areola who is currently on loan with them. It has also been mentioned that the Hammers have an option to buy him for a fee worth up to £11m.
Areola’s Campaign For West Ham United Last Season
Areola has had a decent campaign at the London stadium as he featured in 18 matches, playing regularly in the Europa League competition. He impressed Moyes after producing a few influential displays between the sticks, making the most out of his appearances.
The 29-year-old’s Premier League record averages at nine clean sheets secured over 37 appearances throughout his career, including his time spent on loan at Fulham.
Despite not securing a clean sheet for the Hammers last season, he has done well to provide cover for Lukasz Fabianski (stats via Premier League).
past Alphonse Areola of West Ham United during the UEFA Europa League Semi-Final Leg Two match between Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham United at Deutsche Bank Park on May 05, 2022, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
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Good Move From West Ham Boss David Moyes?
The French shot-stopper was the cup keeper for West Ham last season. He has fared well to catch Moyes’ eye for a permanent move. Areola can distribute the ball from the back and remains calm when the opposition are on the front foot. The 1.95 m tall goalkeeper does well to parry the ball away, securing the net from long shots.
He has always played second fiddle to Lukasz Fabianski, but with the Polish shot-stopper nearing 35 years of age, it is more and more difficult for him to perform consistently at this point. Areola fits the bill of a modern goalkeeper and could very well feature as a regular in the next term. At 29, he could undoubtedly play in between the sticks at the London Stadium for a couple of years.
However, to be honest, the Frenchman’s wages worth around £120k per week has to be a stumbling block. Although recent reports from Daily Mail have stated that PSG are considering subsidising his wages which will undoubtedly help facilitate Moyes’ plans of bringing him to London Stadium over a permanent contract this summer.
