West Ham United want Mexico goalkeeper David Ochoa this summer but face competition from Atletico Madrid and Premier League newcomers Fulham and Bournemouth, according to Fox Sports.
Neither Pablo Barrero nor Guillermo Franco really set the world alight at Upton Park but the Hammers will not let past failures get them down as they look to make Ochoa the 11th Mexican footballer to step foot on the Premier League stage.
According to reports from across the Atlantic, a number of clubs based in Europe have made contact with Ochoa’s agent. The goalkeeper’s deal at MLS outfit Real Salt Lake expires in December, meaning the California-born Mexico U21 international can be snapped up on a pre-contract agreement this summer.
La Liga champions Atletico Madrid are interested. As are Fulham, Bournemouth and a West Ham side who have been linked with a number of talented shot-stoppers – including Sam Johnstone, Nick Pope and Gaetan Coucke – amid doubts over the futures of both Lukasz Fabianski and PSG loanee Alphonse Areola.
Bournemouth, Fuoham and West Ham want David Ochoa
Ochoa, one of the rising stars of American football, was recently rewarded for an excellent campaign at Real Salt Lake with his first ever call-up to the senior Mexican national team by former Argentina and Barcelona boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
A confident and fiery character not afraid to give out as much as he receives, Ochoa’s stand-out attributes are his impressive game-management and ‘cat-like reflexes’.
“He’s, like, 18, but he has the maturity,” Real Salt Lake hero Luke Mulholland told The Athletic in 2020.
“I know he probably annoys fans when he likes to keep the ball in the corner of the box and then goes down and picks it up or whatever, but I think he already has the awareness of when to slow the game down and when to speed it up.
“He has top, cat-like reflexes at times. He’s got a very bright future as long as he stays grounded.”
Ochoa still has a lot to learn, particularly regarding his distribution and his positional sense. But the foundations are there for a potentially high-class glovesman.
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“Ochoa is very much still just a shot-stopper,” adds goalkeeping expert Matt Pyzdrowski said. “He’s quick and very athletic, with a good size, range and long reach.
“Though other areas of his skill set need to continue to develop, most notably his distribution.”
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