Alphonse Areola future becomes crystal clear after PSG announcement sends message to loan club West Ham ahead of summer.
Areola has been fantastic for West Ham on loan from Paris Saint-Germain this season and fans are desperate for David Moyes to make the deal permanent.
Indeed Moyes himself has made it clear he wants to sign Areola permanently.
West Ham reportedly have an option to make Areola’s signing from PSG permanent for £11m (Jeunes Footeux).
Quite why West Ham did not move quickly to do just that in January – or at least get a concrete deal in place for the summer – only Moyes will know. That save against Sevilla would surely have put paid to any doubts.
As West Ham appear to be dragging their heels, the likes of 90Min and Football League World have recently reported that Moyes’s hopes of re-signing the France international could be scuppered by interest from Areola’s former loan club Fulham as they edge closer to an inevitable Premier League return.
Now West Ham have no excuses.
Because Areola’s future has become crystal clear after a PSG announcement that sends a message to West Ham about his availability.
PSG yesterday announced that highly-rated young goalkeeper Lucas Lavallee has extended his contract with the club until 2025 and will step up to the first team squad.
The PSG website says Lavallee’s contract has been extended after the 19-year-old France youth international impressed having regularly trained with the first team in Paris.
“The Armentières-born shot-stopper, who has frequently been called up to train with the first team, was part of the senior squad for the first time last November when they travelled to Saint-Étienne on Matchday 15 of Ligue 1,” PSG said on their website.
With world star goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas battling for the number one spot at PSG, Areola’s future always looked certain to be away from the club.
And West Ham fans hope it will be at West Ham.
PSG also have goalkeepers Denis Franchi and Alexandre Letellier in their first team squad.
So with the Lavallee announcement, Areola’s future is crystal clear – it won’t be at the Parc des Princes.
Let’s hope the club heeds Walker’s advice.
Because at 29, Areola could be West Ham’s first team goalkeeper for the next six years at least.
He has seriously impressed with his shot-stopping, athleticism, presence and kicking with both feet.