David Moyes could be heading for his first Hammers confrontation with the Hammers board…over Joe Hart.
The goalkeeping situation at the club has becoming increasingly worrying this season with both the England stopper and Adrian showing indifferent and inconsistent form.
But the manager has regularly talked up Hart and stuck by him against Arsenal – in which he produced a good performance – despite him being responsible for the goal against Stoke.
And in the absence of any seriously attractive goalkeeping prospects Moyes may want Hart on a possible permanent deal although the board aren’t keen to keep him on a £110k a week.
Whilst not ruling out the possibility entirely there are also doubts that he is the answer whilst Moyes is understood to be enthusiastic.
However, should the manager get his way it would almost certainly see the end of Adrian who is hardly likely to want a new deal as No 2.
Two great keepers at Burnley. Could tempt one of them. Both England selections so pretty sure neither will want to be a number two. Also Peacock-Farrell at Leeds. Foster, Butland etc. Bettinelli at Fulham, if they miss promotion. No lack of prospects out there.
And if we care to expand the horizon, Mattia Perin in Italy, Timo Horn in Germany, Svilar from Benfica, Alisson from Roma, Ruffier (Saint Etienne) or Laffont (Toulouse) in France, just to mention a few. Let’s not forget some brilliant goalkeepers there are in Spain too. Do we have to get a British goalkeeper at all costs ?
I won’t pretend to know the right answer to our keeping woes, but I do know what it isn’t! And Hart @ £110k a week isn’t the way forward. We can do better and free up some wages at the same time.