Former Hammer Darren Randolph has told Middlesbrough he wants to leave to return to West Ham.
The Hammers want to re-sign Randolph and to make him their No.2 to Lukasz Fabianski to replace Roberto.
The goalkeeper spent two seasons at West Ham between 2015 and 2017 before making a £5m move to Boro.
Boro have reportedly rejected a £2m bid from West Ham for Randolph and are digging their heels in wanting to recoup a sum much closer to what they bought him for.
But the 32-year-old Ireland international has just 18 months left on his contract and has made his wishes to leave clear.
While Fabianksi has returned from injury David Moyes revealed he missed training one day this week making him a doubt for Sunday. David Martin also remains a doubt also as he is still recovering from a thigh injury. They could mean that Roberto starts on Sunday in the FA Cup game against Gillingham.
Why don’t West Ham make a sensible offer now that Randolph has been improved with Boro experience and expertise?
I have no idea why we have never looked at Daniel Bentley?! He is a local boy (Basildon), was exceptional at Southend at such a young age and has improved subsequently at Brentford and now Bristol City. He appears to have everything to male a top class keeper and at 26 is a perfect age as an understudy and to bridge the gap between Fabianski and perhaps Trott in the future?!
Why would we even be entertaining the thought of having him back? Ok, he wasn’t as bad as the bumbling mess that is Roberto, but as a club striving for the ‘next level’ (or is that another of the boards pipe-dreams to be forgotten about?) surely we should be investing money in a younger version of Fabianski, someone prepared to push Fab for the jersey as opposed to just being an understudy in case of injury. We already have one of those in David Martin who imo did well when called upon.
Another short-term fix by our short-sighted board!