West Ham United reportedly want a new goalkeeper with Edouard Mendy of Reims and proven Premier League stopper Lukasz Fabianski on the radar.
West Ham United have history when it comes to signing players from the French second tier.
Diafra Sakho joined from Metz in the summer of 2014 after netting 20 goals in 37 games to fire his side to the Ligue 2 title. And the Senegalese hit man went on to enjoy a respectable four years at West Ham before leaving for Rennes this summer. And it seems West Ham are ready to raid France’s second division again, this time for a goalkeeper.
As reported by the Mirror, Manuel Pellegrini’s first signing since taking over at the London Stadium could be the highly-rated Reims shot-stopper Edouard Mendy. The 6ft 5ins Guinea Bissau international enjoyed a superb 2017/18 season, inspiring Reims to promotion while conceding just 19 goals in 31 games.
It is understood that West Ham believe Mendy, who also kept 17 clean sheets last season, has Premier League quality. According to the Mirror, so do Newcastle United.
But it is difficult to get away from the idea that this signing would be a major risk. Not only would Mendy have to adapt to a new league and a new culture, he would also have to make a massive step up from the French second tier to the English first. The 25-year-old is completely unproven at this level, unlike Lukasz Fabianski.
The goalkeeping position was arguably West Ham’s biggest problem last season and reports that Watford are set to win the race for Swansea stopper Fabianski dispute interest from the Hammers, according to the Mirror (live blog, 10.57am), should perhaps raise questions.
Mendy would cost half of Fabianski’s £4 million fee. But should the Hammers simply pay £2 million more for a proven Premier League goalkeeper?
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