Irons closing in on deal – Romano

Fabrizio Romano insists that West Ham are edging closer to signing Alphonse Areola from PSG this summer.

The goalkeeper has spent the season on loan at the London Stadium but it appears that the club are poised to trigger the clause in his contract allowing the Irons to buy him outright.

Romano reports on Twitter that the Hammers are set to hold talks with the Frenchman’s agents this week.

The Hammers will pay €9m for the goalkeeper, which equates to £7.6m, a deal that could well be seen as a bargain.

Indeed, Areola impressed throughout the Hammers’ Europa League campaign, playing every game as the club reached the semi-finals, only losing to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

It remains to be seen how Areola is used next season but we have reported previously that he would like assurances over game time, with the expectation being that he will be installed as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.