Having turned a drama into a crisis by letting veteran keeper Lucas Fabianski leave the club after seven years, when his performances even in his very last game for West Ham were still top-drawer, the club now needs – urgently – to bring in another stopper.
With Wes Foderingham the sole backup to Areola, the club must reinforce: Why they brought this trouble on themselves when they could have coped for another 12 moths when cash is – reportedly – short – is anyone’s guess.
Especially concerning as it has emerged that the club (i.e. Potter) have doubts over Areola’s long term suitability.
Reported by Football Insider in their article yesterday ‘West Ham make transfer decision after concerning Alphonse Areola news‘, the outlet recounts the concerns at London Stadium now, post Fabianski’s exit :
“Paves the way for Alphonse Areola, 32, to become West Ham‘s undisputed number-one shot-stopper – but sources say the club have “concerns” about his ability to do so…Areola has never been fully relied upon at the London Stadium, even as Fabianski entered the twilight years of his career. …West Ham have Areola ‘concerns’.
And the report continues and names Aaron Ramsdale – no surprise there – as the stopper under consideration although things have moved pretty fast in the last couple of days and could now see Noah Atabolu (cheaper) or Robert Sanchez (Kudus part ex) of Chelsea becoming more likely.
The whole situation is almost laughable: Did nobody tell Graham Potter – who presumably took the decision to let Fabianski go – that there were no funds to bring in a new keeper until players are sold?
Ramsdale at £20 million seems totally out of reach for West Ham just now, unless the Saints would favour a loan deal to allow West Ham to kick the can 12 months down the road and for Saints to get £100k a week off their payroll. Don’t rule it out. Footballinsider247 ‘s later article last night suggested that it is very much on the table. Makes a lot of sense from both clubs’ points of view.
Who played in goal for West Ham during their successful Europa conference league winning season. Areola did. All those winning games that season while in the league we stunk with Fabianski in goal. I suggest we give Areola a whole season. All that time playing second fiddle to Fabianski in the league. I think he deserves a whole season between the sticks.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought Fabianski had to be persuaded to play on for another year as it was?
In any case, he wouldn’t be the answer if they have doubts about Areola.
This is why I doubt that West Ham have a complete “sell to buy” situation.
As the article points out and while there’s definitely merit to keeping Fabianski as a back-up keeper, they obviously know that only having two “first team” keepers would mean spending to replace him.
We won’t have £200m to spend and might not be able to buy any “luxury” signings without selling but I’d say there has to be something in the cookie jar otherwise we’d have kept him… or maybe I’m just being naively optimistic there.
Stupid decisions and incompetence continue at West Ham, even after Steidten + LopT.
How can the entire West Ham hierarchy just let Cresswell and Fabianski go, esp when they were playing such a reliable role at West Ham … and not having solid back-up players to fill the gaps. Also knowing that WH had reached financial limitations ????
And West Ham fired the 2 men for their roles in overspending – Wow. To continue stupidity is the pits !!!!
The incompetence in management at West Ham would be laughable if it wasn’t such a serious concern. Keystone Cops has nothing on Silly Sullivan and his merry men.
Neither Aaron Ramsdale or Robert Sanchez are better than Lucas Fabianski. Lucas defies his age by his performances and should have been offered a 1 year extension. Instead we now have to worry about finding substantial transfer money, from an apparently empty pot, to bring in a decent replacement. Lucas loved the club and wanted to stay, everyone could see that. The ruthless decision to give him the flick and, by the same token, compromise our squad rebuild defies logic. The club is run by fools!
Why was Fabianski not renewed ? He was the one released player I’d have kept.
lol lol I read this site most days not generally for the content but it’s comical, squad too old, now should have kept him and him, can’t beat experience, squad too old, experienced pro, squad too old, lol lol
It really is amazing. Every story is twisted by C&H to be a negative. As you say, it was ridiculous according to this site how old our squad was, now we are told it is ridiculous that we are letting go a 40 year old, the oldest of them all who this site roundly criticized for his slow distribution. Talking about things being in a poor state, it is sad to see how far C&H has fallen in just 12 months. And they pretend to be true fans.
Mads Hermansen at Leicester City is the one we should be looking at a very young top class keeper
What happened to all the young keepers coming through the academy a couple of years ago. Are they still not ready to be the back up?
Out of the players we let go, Fab is the one I understand the least. Due to our supposed back of funds I am sure we could have kept him for another year, allowing us to concentrate on our outfield issues.
The laughable thing, if you are not a supporter is we have a manager that believes we are going to have a blinding summer window.
Please remind me what our captains of industry and leaders of WHU have actually done to get us in this position.
They should be brought in front of a camera to identify what our clear position is. The inept media call us financially successful in one print and bankrupt in another.
Where is the facts and accountability!!!