Alphonse Areola, West Ham United badge
Alphonse Areola looks finished at West Ham United [Credit: Imago]
Connor Burgess
Tue 17 December 2024 17:40, UK
Alphonse Areola will be sweating on his West Ham United future as the club’s transfer plans begin to take shape.
The 31-year-old has not featured for the Hammers since the 4-1 loss against Tottenham on 19 October and finds himself on the fringes in East London behind Lukasz Fabianski.
According to Fabrizio Romano [17 December], the Frenchman could fall further behind in the pecking order at the London Stadium as the Hammers continue to monitor Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu ahead of a future transfer.
With West Ham eager to future-proof the goalkeeper position, Areola could be finished in East London.
Alphonse Areola should push for a move out of West Ham United
Fabianski, at 40, has no intentions of relinquishing his starting spot at West Ham after his Man of the Match performance in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
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Although the Polish shot-stopper was beaten by a 90th-minute Enes Unal free-kick, three minutes after Lucas Paqueta had looked to have snatched the three points on the South Coast from the penalty spot, he is firmly the number one choice between the sticks for Lopetegui.
Therefore, barring a drastic change in circumstances, Fabianski appears set to see out the remainder of the campaign in the starting XI for the Irons, with a view of securing a long-term successor in the summer.
Areola risks watching his career go up in flames – his admission from first-team duties in East London has led to his place in the French national side being threatened, and it is clear he must seek new pastures at the first available opportunity.
Lukasz Fabiański West Ham
Lukasz Fabiański is a West Ham United veteran
The Frenchman only has himself to blame; his displays in the Hammers goal at the beginning of the season left a lot to be desired, and he has hardly put up much of a fight to reclaim his starting spot.
Atubolu, 22, has established himself as one of the better goalkeepers in the Bundesliga at Freiburg and would be an ideal long-term successor between the sticks for the Irons.
It appears the time has come for Areola to pack his bags.
In other West Ham news, Arsenal set their sights on Mohammed Kudus as the Irons are prepared to sanction a sale.
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