Lukasz Fabianski’s West Ham United career might be over but that does not mean his time in London, or perhaps even the Premier League, is up just yet.
Alongside Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio, Kurt Zouma and co, veteran goalkeeper Fabianski bid farewell to West Ham at the end of last season.
What’s more, his contract officially expired on Tuesday.
But those who expected to see a man of 40 hang up his gloves and call time on his professional career underestimate Lukasz Fabianski’s fierce desire to keep chuckling in the face of Father Time.
The former Arsenal man turned down a return to Poland with Legia Warsaw recently, the club where he claimed the Ekstraklasa title all the way back in 2006.
This, by the way, was a decision borne out of Fabianski’s desire to stay in England. Preferably, London.
But in a week in which Vladimir Coufal saw a move to Fulham slip away, Fabianski’s chances of making the shortest of six-mile trips to a club based a stone’s throw away from West Ham United also appear to have suffered a potentially decisive blow.
Lukasz Fabianski was offered to Charlton Athletic after West Ham United exit
According to Richard Cawley, writing in South London Sport, 2023 Conference League champion Lukasz Fabianski was offered to Charlton Athletic last month.
West Ham’s local neighbours are back in the Championship, having defeated Leyton Orient in a tense play-off final at Wembley back in May.
And when fellow veteran Dean Bouzanis left the Addicks, the door to The Valley appeared ajar. Not anymore, though.
Not with Charlton raiding Luton Town on the back of successive relegations, bringing former Blackburn Rovers glovesman Thomas Kaminski to the capital.
Kaminski is set to compete with Will Mannion, the club’s number one throughout most of last season.
“I’m very pleased because it’s a wonderful signing,” Charlton’s wild-eyed head coach Nathan Jones said as the Belgium international, a stand-out performer during Luton’s brief spell in the top-flight, arrives for a bargain fee of £1 million.
“Thomas was outstanding for Luton in the Premier League and he was outstanding last season in the Championship as well. For me, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the division.
“We wanted to strengthen on all levels and improve every department, and we feel that the signing of Thomas does that.”
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur may need a new goalkeeper
Suggestions that Charlton were made aware of Fabianski’s availability certainly give the impression of a goalkeeper looking both for regular first-team football, and a club willing to offer him the chance to extend his seven-year stay in London.
Maybe, if Fabianski does not mind playing a back-up role, further options could open up to him.
Perhaps Chelsea could make a move, having recently lost their designated third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli to Manchester City. Then again, Blues boss Enzo Maresca appears ready to give Mike Penders a chance, the youngster snapped up from Genk expected to play third-fiddle behind Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen next term.
Sunderland are closing in on Chelsea misfit Djordje Petrovic, meanwhile; West Ham’s own goalkeeper pursuit dragging on.
Arsenal landed Kepa Arrizabalaga this week. There may be a chance that Fabianski could become one of very few players to represent West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham, however, with Spurs saying farewell to Fraser Forster.
Crystal Palace is a no-go after they signed Walter Benitez from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Brentford snapped up Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher, meanwhile, and have Icelandic international Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson in reserve.
Fabianski held discussions with Legia Warsaw director Michal Zewkalow at the beginning of the summer, informing him of his desire to remain in England for personal reasons.
“I spoke with Michal and thanked him very much for his interest,” Fabianski explained. “However, I have repeated many times that the most important thing for me is my son’s development.
“[My son] has adapted very well to the conditions [in London], so we do not want to risk harming him in any way. It is known that the education system in England is very different from that in Poland. Of course, he has his own group of colleagues and friends.
“I think that a huge change would be too much of a risk for now. We are very happy with his development, he is a priority for us, so now we are making all decisions with our child in mind.
“I’m at a stage in my professional life where I’m not in a hurry. I’m calmly analysing everything, enjoying my free time. We’ll see what life brings. I don’t have to rush anymore.”
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