In what feels like a less-than-stellar assessment of Tim Steidten’s recruitment, there is barely an area of the West Ham United squad which does not appear ripe for reinvestment during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Suggestions that Kurt Zouma could return to Saudi Arabia and re-claim his place in the team speaks volumes about the performances of Graham Potter’s current central defenders.
Vladimir Coufal is expected to leave West Ham on a free, while Aaron Cresswell and Emerson Palmieri may also depart.
Guido Rodriguez is in talks to join River Plate, Spain international Carlos Soler will return to PSG, and The Hammers look likely to be in the market for a centre-forward or two as well with Schalke’s Moussa Sylla and Strasbourg’s Emmanuel Emegha among those to be mentioned over the last few weeks.
But the goalkeeping department is in need of some re-shaping as much as any other. Alphonse Areola has endured an error-riddled season since replacing 40-year-old Lukasz Fabianski as West Ham United’s number one.
With reports claiming Espanyol hope to bring Areola back to Spain, it’s difficult to imagine the departure of the former Villarreal and Real Madrid glovesman will elicit too many tears on the London Stadium terraces.
West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola linked with Espanyol
To quote one critic, Alphonse Areola is ‘a glaring weak spot in the West Ham team’ these days.
The experienced Frenchman may have been nominated for the Premier League’s Save of the Month award – his fine reflex stop denying Toti Gomes during the 1-0 defeat to Wolves – but such moments have become increasingly seldom in a campaign of costly blunders.
Only Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen is underperforming his ‘expected save’ percentage more than Areola. According to Fotmob, the West Ham glovesman has let in 6.4 goals more than he realistically should have been expected to.
With two years left on his contract, though, The Hammers may need some help shifting the £10 million Parisian. Help which could arrive from a rather unexpected but familiar source.
London neighbours Arsenal, in fact.
Now, make no mistake, Arsenal are not looking to sign Alphonse Areola themselves. Veteran Brazilian Neto may be returning to AFC Bournemouth but it seems unlikely that The Gunners would consider Areola a fitting replacement.
According to The Times, however, Joan Garcia is more Arsenal’s speed. A truly sensational shot-stopper who excels when it comes to point-blank denials, The Gunners came close to signing Garcia last summer and are expected to return to the table a year on with a very affordable £17 million release clause in his contract.
Arsenal could help West Ham shift Areola back to La Liga
Arsenal agreed personal terms back in 2024, though they now face competition with TBR Football reporting that Manchester City have joined Man United, Atletico Madrid and more in pursuit of the La Liga star.
And this is where West Ham come in.
Espanyol are reportedly tracking Areola ahead of the summer window. Joan Garcia’s gloves would take some filling in Catalonia but, what Areola lacks in terms of elite shot-stopping, he could make up for in experience. Not to mention, a proven track record in Spanish football.
If West Ham want to move on from Areola – and it’s not hard to imagine they do – then Arsenal, Man City, or even Man United could provide the key which unlocks the door.
“I must admit, the goalkeeper doesn’t fill me with any confidence,” West Ham legend Tony Cottee said following the 4-1 hammering by Tottenham late last year, highlighting more weaknesses in Areola’s game.
“He is a good shot-stopper, but his distribution, his command of the penalty area, I think there seems to be a lot of hesitancy in front of him.”
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