PSG’s Alphonse Areola is reportedly target for Newcastle United and Crystal Palace – but he has a lot to do to reach the top of his game.
It’s fair to say PSG’s goalkeepers aren’t quite as glamourous as the club’s stars at the other end of the pitch. Former Frankfurt glovesman Kevin Trapp still hasn’t shaken off that tendency for silly errors while Alphonse Areola is arguably yet to replicate the excellent form he showed on loan at Villarreal in 2015/16.
Areola, like his German counterpart, was far from convincing last season in a PSG side who have a forward line fit for the Champions League final and goalkeepers who are a fair distance away from being considered among the very best in their position.
The 24-year-old’s disastrous error to gift Lille an 86th minute equaliser in February sticks in the mind, Areola dispossesed by Nicolas de Preville when trying to dribble in his area. It’s this kind of mistake that should remind reported Premier League suitors that the young Frenchman has a lot of kinks to iron out in his game.
Far from the finished article
“Alphonse is young. He needs experience,” said manager Unai Emery, in quotes reported by FourFourTwo. “I believe that living these negative things will help him for the future.”
Areola has certainly enjoyed a brighter start to the new season and seems to have ousted Trapp as PSG’s first-choice keeper. Nonetheless, The Sun is reporting that Newcastle United, as well as Crystal Palace, are considering bringing the 24-year-old in on loan as he searches for guaranteed game time ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
While hugely promising, Emery’s comments should perhaps be seen as a warning to Newcastle. Magpies boss Rafael Benitez had made his desire for a new number one clear throughout the summer, the club even putting Karl Darlow and Tim Krul up for sale.
And although a fine reflex shot-stopper who commands his area with real authority, the Paris-born talent is still lacking the experience and composure that Benitez appears to be looking out for. His determination to bring in veteran ‘keepers like Pepe Reina and Willy Caballero this summer suggests that he wants a number one who has been there and done it.
The fact he has omitted Darlow suggests that he wants reliability over potential. And Areola, for all his talents, is far from the finished article.
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