West Ham are actively searching for a new goalkeeper, with the position now considered a priority, Claret & Hugh has learned this afternoon.
With Łukasz Fabiański released at the end of last season, Alphonse Areola remains the club’s current No.1. However, there’s growing belief that Graham Potter is seeking a change between the sticks to better suit his possession-based system.
While Areola is an excellent shot-stopper, his limitations with the ball at his feet were exposed in the second half of last season, particularly after Potter’s shift in tactics.
When C&H contacted a training ground source to ask about possible changes in defence—specifically regarding Nayef Aguerd—we were told:
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see a keeper arrive first. We have been looking.”
No specific names were confirmed, but it would probably make sense for West Ham to be in the market for a new goalkeeper—especially following the arrival of specialist coach Linus Kandolin, who previously worked under Potter in Sweden.
Aaron Ramsdale has been strongly linked with a move to the London Stadium and is believed to have made clear his intention to leave Southampton. Whether he is the club’s top target remains unclear, but it’s evident the search for a new No.1 is well underway.
With Potter’s desire to build from the back, a ball-playing goalkeeper does make sense but surely we are in desperate need of those elusive midfielders first?
Possession based football. A goalkeeper who can play with his feet. A recipe for disaster. This ‘style’ of play also relies heavily on the outfield players not making any mistakes along with an opposition who will respect the style and stand off. Also begs the question of how we are supposed to score.
Sounds of Southgate tedium as we persist with the notion that if we can dominate the possession statistic then the opposition can’t get the ball anywhere near our goal.
Everyone with at least half an ounce of common sense knows that this is impossible and a futile pursuit. If we can perfect the ‘style’ we will have no need of attacking players and we will end up playing all of the games in our own half. Entertainment will be stifled.
This must not happen. This is not football. This is not The West Ham Way.
We need effort and ambition. Release the ball and release the talent.
COYI
Areola is a great keeper, we should of given Fab a year extension, we’re in need of a striker who will give us pace and be fit for the season, Evan Guissand should be a priority signing ⚒
Is there no end to Potters madness. I am shocked Sully is indulging him. We all know he will be gone by Christmas and we will be left with no money and a squad that is still old, slow and incapable of scoring enough goals
You can still get 7/1 on us going down.
Total insanity at Westham . Fabiansky was the equal of Areola and most importantly FREE . To get rid of him just to play a silly ageist numbers game is moronic . Westham by all accounts have precious little money to spend on priority targets like midfield , striker and left back and so if buying a new GK does the same as buying Guilherme instead of Duran then it appears as if the hierarchy are trying to get Westham relegated . If this is Potter’s idea then Westham are doomed by an idiot coach.
With a midfield that is about as dynamic as a stone on a particularly lazy day we think a goalkeeper is a priority! There’s zero point having a keeper who likes to pass when you’ve got the midfield we have as we simply can’t play through the opposition, we should look to get 2 quality dynamic mobile players in the midfield and a striker as a priority
Another top priority, what a laugh! So that makes about 9 positions top priority. Given we haven’t got anyone yet I think top priority ought to be dropped from the reporting, it just tells me they don’t know who or what to buy…….shambles.
Tells me also they dont want to spend any money
Ramsdale isn’t any better with ball at his feet and is another that has mistakes in him. Plus he will be too expensive for our bargain basement offer.
I’m aghast at how hard we make this. We don’t conduct ourselves deserved of an elite Premier League side. And I doubt we will be this time next year. How we’d like our own ground in the championship
Yeh but the reality is yet another day gone and no progress and nothing except rumours and hearsay.
Really is the most amateur management of a transfer window.
The club seems oblivious to the frustration of the fans.
We so need a actually financed serious DoF left to do the job – way way way more than a goalkeeper
Ramsdale left Arsenal because he was poor with his feet. An affliction that most of our squad also suffer from unfortunately