**What could the future hold for former West Ham number one and Polish international Lukasz Fabianski?**
Prior to rejoining the club earlier this season, Fabianski’s initial seven year spell which saw him make more than 200 appearances in claret and blue came to an end last summer. He left alongside a number of experienced pros, players who had been at West Ham for a number of years, had bought into the clubs culture and understood what it meant to wear that Hammers shirt.
Fellow departee’s that summer were Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal. The former Arsenal and Swansea shot stopper’s departure came as somewhat of a surprise to many supporters.
Despite having recently turned 40 prior to leaving the club, even in his last couple of seasons where he played less frequently Fabianski still proved that he was a more than capable goalkeeper at Premier League level. He is without question one of West Ham’s best goalkeepers of the Premier League era.
Like with an Aaron Cresswell or Vladimir Coufal, there seemed a plausible argument to give him an additional one year contract as the club’s backup goalkeeper, knowing he could slot in and do a job if and when required.
It was certainly an unexpected piece of news seeing the veteran shot stopper rejoin West Ham back in September as the club’s third choice goalkeeper following the departure of Wes Foderingham. Not much has been seen or heard from the 40 year old since his return.
A back injury has kept him sidelined for the vast majority of his return. As the season draws to a close, with his latest contract up in June, Fabianski will naturally be weighing up his future and deciding whether he still feels he has more to offer as a player or whether it is time to turn his attention to the next steps after his playing career.
West Ham are still in the midst of a relegation battle. How this season ends is what will determine the makeup of next season’s first team squad. It remains to be seen where the futures of Alphonse Areola or Mads Hermansen lay this summer, as regards to a third choice option it seems unlikely that the club would offer Fabianski an extension particularly with his injury struggles in mind since rejoining the club.
The Athletic recently published an article analysing the futures of the Hammers squad. They suggested that Fabianski would be open to remaining at the club in some capacity. This would indicate the former Polish international has considered the coaching route and could look to stay at the club, this could be at academy level as a goalkeeping coach for instance.
Should Fabianski bring the curtain down on his playing career, keeping someone like him at West Ham in a coaching capacity would be a smart move from the club.
With more than 370 appearances in the Premier League, his wealth of experience at the highest level, coupled with his clear love for the club, would be the perfect mix to help nurture the next generation of goalkeeping talent and those knocking on the door of first team opportunities like Fin Herrick.