David Moyes has finally cleared up the confusion regarding the role that Alphonse Areola was promised when he joined West Ham United.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper joined West Ham on an initial loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021.
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Areola then moved to the London Stadium on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window for an initial £8 million fee (The Athletic).
The France international stopper was fully expected to take over from Lukasz Fabianski as West Ham’s number one this season, after biding his time last term. However, things haven’t quite worked out that way for him.
He has played second fiddle for the Hammers yet again this season, and that must be hugely frustrating for him.
What was Areola actually told about playing time before he signed for us on a permanent deal though?
David Moyes makes Alphonse Areola admission
The Scot spoke to reporters yesterday after Lukasz Fabianski was ruled out for an indefinite period of time with an eye socket injury.
And Moyes responded when asked whether Areola will now make the transition into West Ham’s number one goalkeeper, as quoted by Football.London:
“We told him eventually he will take over from Lukasz Fabianski. Let’s be fair Lukasz Fabianski has played ever so well and if anything, experienced, steady, very reliable, very calm in his goalkeeping. He’s gone on a bit longer, maybe we thought Phonse might have been there by now but it’s more to do with how well Lukasz has played.”
I just find the fact that Areola isn’t our number one goalkeeper in the Premier League absolutely baffling.
Fabianski has been a very solid goalkeeper for us over the past 4.5 years, but he’s not in the Frenchman’s league in my opinion.
The 29-year-old’s shot-stopping, distribution, reflexes and agility are all far superior to Fab’s. Perhaps the only thing that the 37-year-old does better than the ex-PSG ace is claiming crosses.
David Moyes has made it clear that the original plan was for Alphonse Areola to take over from Fabianski at the start of this season. That hasn’t quite worked out for him but now he has a great chance to make the number one jersey at the London Stadium his own.
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