West Ham boss David Moyes is surely reconsidering the summer signing of Sam Johnstone after what he saw last night.
The Hammers have long been linked with a move for the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper.
Speculation was rife in the summer that West Ham were close to signing Johnstone in a £10m deal from the Baggies.
Rumours have persisted that West Ham will look to sign Johnstone when his contract expires this summer.
That would surely be instead of, rather than as well as, Areola – who is rated at around £11m by parent club PSG.
Hammers fans seriously rate Areola, who has shone almost every time he has played for West Ham this season.
So Johnstone would have to be pulling up trees in the Championship with West Brom to convince Moyes and West Ham supporters he should be the club’s new long-term successor to Lukasz Fabianski.
The West Brom number one had kept 11 clean sheets in 24 Championship matches earlier this season but then lost his place in the side.
Johnstone has come back in under new Baggies boss Steve Bruce. But they haven’t won a game since.
The reported West Ham target has shipped eight goals in five games with West Brom suffering four defeats and claiming a 0-0 draw.
It is fair to say Johnstone has struggled with West Brom sliding down the Championship table.
David Moyes surely reconsidering summer signing of Sam Johnstone at West Ham after what he saw last night
And Moyes will surely reconsider making Johnstone a summer signing after what he saw last night.
The former England squad player was somewhat at fault for both goals as Swansea beat West Brom 2-0 at home.
His kicking and distribution was also very poor.
Johnstone’s reactions were slow as Swansea’s first went through the West Ham target’s legs.
And the second was even worse. Cyrus Christie was afforded too much time in the box. But instead of closing the angle down, Johnstone stayed on his line and then allowed the defender’s shot to go in despite it being straight at him AND getting a good hand on it.
The Birmingham Mail savaged Johnstone in its player ratings after the game, giving the goalkeeper a 3/10 rating.
“Johnstone 3: Kicking was wayward in the first half, but he was on hand to punch behind a powerful header at the back post from Christie as Swansea applied pressure in the first half. Should’ve done better with Piroe’s opener,” Birmingham Mail stated.
One poor display does not make Johnstone a bad player. But his form has been questionable for some time.
The fact he is available for free could yet see Moyes plump for him over Areola. But you have to pay for quality and the French World Cup winner is a bargain at the reported £11m.
Former Hammers Andy Carroll and Grady Diangana endured frustrating nights too. Carroll was awarded a 4/10 rating but Diangana was The Birmingham Mail’s star man and ‘only bright spark’ for West Brom with 6/10.