Earlier today, ExWHUEmployee revealed (via The West Ham Way) that long-serving goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero will leave the club this summer.
Valero has become a popular figure at the club since joining in 2018 under Manuel Pellegrini, but his time at the London Stadium is seemingly up.
The report did not state whether he was departing due to Alphonse Areola’s underperformance this season.
However, manager Graham Potter is keen on working with a goalkeeping coach he knows.
The English tactician is eyeing Ben Roberts, whom he worked with at Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea.
Roberts is currently at Chelsea, but the Hammers may be able to pry him away after taking recruitment specialist Kyle Macaulay from the Blues.
Why the Hammers must avoid a move for Roberts – Opinion
With Lukasz Fabianski leaving West Ham United this summer, the new goalkeeping coach will likely have a massive say in his replacement.
The last time Roberts had that power, he played a key role in bringing Robert Sanchez to Chelsea.
They paid £25 million to sign a goalkeeper banished to the reserves at Brighton and, unsurprisingly, got error-strewn performances between the sticks.
Roberts reportedly has a father-son relationship with the Spaniard, and the 49-year-old has stood by his pick through the mistakes.
With West Ham needing a new goalkeeper this summer, Roberts might decide to work with the error-prone Sanchez in East London, and the Hammers must resist such judgments.
Potter’s arrival signals a new era. But it must be built on merit, not loyalty. West Ham cannot afford sentimental decisions in such a key department.
The Irons need a coach who prioritises form over familiarity and performance over personal ties. If Roberts still sees Sanchez as his project, that alone is a red flag.
Several top-level goalkeepers across Europe and the Championship are available on the transfer market.
The Hammers need a coach who can identify and develop one of them, not one who arrives with an agenda.
The Valero exit opens the door for change. However, it must be progressive.