RMC Sport reporter Salim Baungally has told Foot Mercato that Alphonse Areola may leave West Ham as the club is yet to decide on his permanent transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
David Moyes signed Areola on loan from the Ligue 1 outfit last summer after he thrived at Fulham last season. Despite the Cottagers’ relegation, the Frenchman stood out as one of their rare stars, and showed he had the potential to push Lukasz Fabianski in east London.
Fabianski had endured a difficult time with injuries in 2020/21, as well, and only extended his contract to 2022. But the Poland star has put those fitness problems in the past and has produced consistent performances to keep Areola out of the line-up for most of the term.
Areola has firmly held a backup position at West Ham with Fabianski starting 28 of their 29 Premier League fixtures. Instead, seven of his 14 outings have come in the Europa League to give Fabianski a rest. Areola also played their three Carabao Cup and three FA Cup ties.
West Ham yet to decide on buying Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint-Germain
Areola made his latest West Ham appearance on Thursday as he helped Moyes’ side reach the Europa League quarter-final. The Frenchman produced a number of important saves to deny Sevilla, with a one-handed stop on Youssef En-Nesyri arguably the pick of the bunch.
The Hammers hold a £15m option to turn the 29-year-old’s temporary move from PSG into a permanent deal this summer. But Baungally understands West Ham are still to decide on triggering the transfer clause, despite their appreciation for what Areola has so far offered.
“We don’t know yet if he will stay,” Baungally said. “But West Ham like him a lot. Fabianski is in front of him but, eventually, Areola will pass. The objective is to have a goalkeeper for the years to come.”
Areola has kept seven clean sheets over his 14 West Ham appearances to 11 goals allowed during his loan transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. Four of those shut outs have now come in Europe after thwarting Sevilla to set up a quarter-final draw against Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.
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