It’s surely time that Alphonse Areola’s switch to West Ham is sorted one way or the other.

Reports that Newcastle are keen may or may not be true whilst Fulham – who have also been mentioned – are unlikely to be able to find the funds for long term wages of say even £80k never mind the £125k he’s reported to be on.

Sources at the London Stadium are reporting to CandH this morning they are confident a deal will be announced shortly but one would have hoped it might have been done by now.

“Shortly” has a habit of becoming a much over-used word in West Ham transfer negotiations but what is known is that David Moyes is very keen on the French international.

One would have hoped as a result that deal would have been all but done during his time here last season and that only the ‘is’ and ‘ts’ would have needed to be crossed by this stage of things.

There seems little doubt among our insiders that it will be done and that with Burnley’s Nick Pope in the last year of his contract next season with a year’s option the Hammers aren’t looking in that direction any longer.