CandH Exclusive by Hughie Southon
West Ham may be ready to make a move in the direction of relegated Burnley’s keeper Nick Pope if they can’t settle terms on Alphonse Areola with Paris St Germain.
Talks are continuing with the 29 year old Frenchman’s representatives with wages possibly causing a problem.
He is currently on £125k a week with Paris St Germain paying £25k of that whilst he remains on loan at the London Stadium.
It’s a huge fee wage bill for an on loan No 2 stopper and the objective will clearly be for him to take a cheaper deal if he is to remain at the club.
Meanwhile, eight times capped international Pope is out of contract next summer and has been the subject of discussion by Moyes’ recruitment team,
He is represented by top representatives the Stellar Group and with an option for another year attached to his current deal the 30 year old would probably be available for around £2o million and a third less wages than Areola.
However, we understand that at this point Moyes has a preference for the Frenchman although of course he has been known to change his mind!
Sounds like dithering Dave again. Both keepers really good and both better than fab now. Maybe let Newman do the transfers as Moyes obviously not suited doing deals then changing his mind again .
Moyes changing his mind on a transfer , no…..surely you can not be serious !!!!!!!
Don’t let Dithering Dave have anything to do with this transfer window , if they do then we will probably go into next season with an even smaller squad than we have !!!
I think we need a papal intervention. Let’s invite the Pope to London Stadium! He is an outstanding keeper and has probably increased his value immensely in the last few games for Burnley.
Surely it would be more economical to move for Areola. As I understand it there would be no transfer fee involved so if we take the £20 million you suggest, which is probably a reasonable figure for an England international, and assume a third of Areola’s wages, which if the £125k per week (£42k per week for Pope) is correct would work out at just under £2.25 million p.a. Spread that over 3 years and Pope would cost £26 million plus, including the transfer fee. Areola, with no fee involved but allowing for the full £125k per week, would only cost just under £20 million, a saving of £6 million.
Would be happy to see Pope come in and Mee and Tarkowski, maybe Weghorst also as he is a big unit that also has good feet so could be useful if we need a late goal.