‘How is it possible’: Agent puzzled by decision on £8m West Ham signing

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Agent Franck Belhassen has questioned West Ham’s decision to not regularly play Alphonse Areola after signing the goalkeeper from PSG on a permanent transfer in the summer window.

Speaking to L’Equipe, the agent, who used to represent Areola, was puzzled by his former client’s lack of playing time this season, with the 29-year-old making just one Premier League appearance off the bench and four more caps in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Areola was signed this summer for a reported £8m as per Sky Sports News, yet impressing for West Ham last season as Lukasz Fabianski’s back-up, the France international is yet to surpass the Polish veteran as David Moyes’ no. shot-stopper.

Whilst the former PSG star is getting minutes for West Ham, Areola was seemingly signed by West Ham to replace Fabianski as the club’s long-term goalkeeper. However, as we know, this is yet to happen for the 29-year-old, who continues to play behind the 37-year-old in the Premier League.

Indeed, Areola will no doubt become West Ham’s starting keeper considering the lengths the Irons went to sign the PSG star, yet for the player’s former agent, the Frenchman should be the Hammers’ starting shot-stopper now under Moyes.

Belhassen said about Areola’s lack of minutes at West Ham this season: “He has all the qualities, the size, the game, he was the goalkeeper of the future. I sometimes wonder how is it possible that he is not a starter at a top European club. But for that, you need character.”

Areola will soon have his chance to shine after £8m West Ham signing

It might be an odd decision to go big on a new goalkeeper to not start him, yet for Areola, the shot-stopper knows that his time will come for West Ham given Fabianski’s age and the number of opportunities the former Fulham and Real Madrid star will have this season in Europe.

After all, West Ham are one of the favourites to win the Europa Conference League, and Areola’s performances in this competition will go a long way in the Parisian-born keeper taking over Fabianski as the club’s no. 1 between the sticks for the years to come.