Brilliant star Alphonse Areola has pledged his future to West Ham after shock links with London rivals Chelsea.
Chelsea are not much of a threat to the likes of West Ham on the pitch these days.
But their ridiculous spending power always makes them a threat off it.
So there were concerns this week when one of West Ham’s top players – 6ft 5in star goalkeeper Alphonse Areola – was suddenly said to be of significant interest to Chelsea.
Football journalist Dean Jones told Give Me Sport that a move to sign the Hammers stopper could appeal to Chelsea in January.
Areola pledges future to West Ham after shock Chelsea links
He said: “The signs that I’ve had are that Arsenal would not loan Ramsdale to a rival, particularly someone like Chelsea and could Chelsea go and buy Aaron Ramsdale? I’m not so sure? There are a few other goalkeeper situations opening up around the Premier League that might become tempting. You look at Areola for example.”
Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is currently out injured with a knee injury, so it is no surprise that Mauricio Pochettino wants to sign another ‘keeper in the January transfer window.
Worried West Ham fans can relax, though, it seems.
Because brilliant star Areola has pledged his future to West Ham after those shock Chelsea links.
Speaking in an interview with The Telegraph, Areola says he loves it at West Ham and wants to repay the club’s faith in giving him a long-term contract.
‘West Ham have given me stability’
“I had won trophies before but I was missing a European trophy. I did not have one,” Areola said when explaining how much the Europa Conference League meant to him and the Hammers in June.
“When I signed here the first thing that I heard from the club, from the board, was that ‘we want to be a team that is competitive in Europe’. As soon as they told me that I said ‘I am in. I am signing’. I am here for that…
“West Ham have given me that stability (after several seasons out on loan from PSG).
“I had been looking for that for such a long time and especially with the girls, my [three] daughters. We wanted to be really settled somewhere so when West Ham and London came it was like ‘perfect spot, perfect team, let’s go’. I was 100 per cent for it. They also gave me confidence by wanting to sign me on a long-term contract as well.”
Great news after that worrying claim.
Areola was back in the West Ham side for the win over Man United, keeping a clean sheet.
And West Ham will need him on top form if they are to continue to challenge in and for Europe.
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