By Dave Langton
Alphonse Areola will have to make a decision over his future in the summer and would like assurances that he will be West Ham’s first-choice goalkeeper next season if he stays.
The club have the option to buy Areola in the summer and a top club insider has made it clear to ClaretandHugh that the Irons want to keep him, ideally on a permanent basis. He is currently earning £90,000-per-week at the London Stadium. 
However, simply triggering the option to sign him from PSG does not guarantee that he will stay, as he could potentially reject a contract offer.
The Irons are aware that there is interest from Fulham, who had Areola on loan last season as they played in the Premier League, and he would likely be immediately installed as their No.1 if he did join.
Areola’s current wage would normally be reserved for a first-choice goalkeeper and the Frenchman is well aware of that, and will subsequently push for assurances that he will not be sitting on the bench next season.
The goalkeeper has primarily played in the Europa League this season and is likely to again on Thursday in the semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Hammers have also scouted Bartlomiej Dragowski, Fiorentina’s goalkeeper, but his injury struggles mean he is unlikely to be pursued this summer.
This guy is a top keeper. Unless we are sure to sign an England international keeper like Pope surely we should take the option and sign him up. Realistically Fab should be looking to ease down a bit at 37.