David Moyes must start Alphonse Areola when West Ham face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night to justify signing the goalkeeper on loan this summer.
The Hammers agreed a season-long deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Areola to move to the London Stadium in July. He returned to England after spending last term with Fulham, which saw the Cottagers fall out of the Premier League.
West Ham signed Areola with a £15m purchase option, per the Daily Star, intending to see him rival Lukasz Fabianski. Yet Moyes has kept trust in the Poland ace to start all top-flight fixtures so far, plus the Irons’ opening Europa League Group Stage tie with Dinamo Zagreb.
Fabianski has recorded two clean sheets over his six appearances between the sticks this season. He shut out Southampton as West Ham drew 0-0 at St Mary’s earlier this month. The 36-year-old also kept Dinamo Zagreb at bay as the Irons won on their European return.
Fabianski has been as dependable as ever for Moyes and pulled off superb saves at the weekend. Denying Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo further chances to break West Ham’s hope of taking a result against Manchester United.
Moyes has scarcely had to consider making a change in goal this term with Fabianski often a spectator in games. Yet the West Ham boss must drop the £65k-a-week stopper to hand Areola his debut in the Carabao Cup.
Should Areola start for West Ham at Manchester United?
Moyes will want West Ham to challenge in the Carabao Cup this season, but needs to start Areola to justify his signing. The Frenchman was brought to the London Stadium with the view of him eventually replacing Fabianski as the number-one.
Fabianski is out of contract next year, but Moyes is yet to see if Areola can take over when needed. The 28-year-old impressed with Fulham, despite their relegation, keeping nine clean sheets over 36 appearances.
Former Fulham boss Scott Parker also lauded Areola as an ‘exceptional’ goalkeeper, via football.london, during his time at Craven Cottage. But he has not maintained that form since moving from west to east London this summer.
Moyes knows what Fabianski can produce against Manchester United after Saturday’s 2-1 loss in the league. So, West Ham should now look to see if Areola can come in, having overlooked the Frenchman against Dinamo Zagreb at the previous chance to experiment.
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