There is value to be found in the market, as West Ham United are demonstrating in pursuit of Burnley captain Josh Brownhill, for those willing to search for it.
While the purported arrival of a 29-year-old free-agent has left sections of the West Ham United fanbase rather underwhelmed, others point to Brownhill’s career-best goal tally of 18 for proof of what a long-time transfer target can bring to the London Stadium.
Josh Brownhill snubbed David Moyes’ advances in favour of a £9 million move to Burnley back in 2020.
Half a decade later, with his contract running out, the one-time Manchester United youngster is reportedly close to agreeing a deal that will see him spend his peak years in a different shade of claret.
With funds tight, this is likely to be a summer of scrimping, saving. Of freebies and fire-sales. A club source informed Hammers News over the weekend that West Ham cannot sign before they sell. As such, until a number of exits can be agreed, Graham Potter will be limited to free-agents and bargain-bin arrivals.
But while Brownhill has left the West Ham supporters divided, there is a feeling among some of a claret and blue persuasion that a £5 million deal for Kepa Arrizabalaga is the sort of opportunity the club cannot let pass them by in these most trying of circumstances.
Kepa Arrizabalaga in Arsenal talks as West Ham United fans urge £5m deal
West Ham will need at least one goalkeeper this summer. Potentially two, if Espanyol make a move for Alphonse Areola.
Aaron Ramsdale can leave Southampton for £25 million – Graham Potter is a big fan of the ex-Arsenal glovesman – while Noah Atubolu will not come cheap after helping Freiburg secure Europa League qualification in May.
Atubolu is keen to swap the Bundesliga for England at some point down the line. But, in the here and now, Freiburg will do everything in their power to retain a penalty-saving specialist who recently set a club-record while keeping clean sheets in six successive matches.
So, as London rivals Arsenal close in on a bargain deal for Chelsea misfit Kepa Arrizabalaga, the feeling among some of a West Ham persuasion is that the cash-strapped Hammers are about to let a rare bargain buy pass them by.
“Kepa is better then Sanchez and Ramsdale,” one fan argues on X, West Ham having also been mentioned as a potential destination for Graham Potter’s former Brighton ace Robert Sanchez.
“Kepa [is available] for £5 million,” another points out.
“Why are we not all over signing Kepa for £5 million?”
“We should be all over this if he is available for that cheap.”
“If you’re looking at new goalkeepers [West Ham], go for Kepa! He had a great season at Bournemouth and he is a great goalie in general.”
Former Real Madrid man Kepa is leaving Chelsea after Bournemouth loan spell
While many Chelsea supporters will take issue with that ‘great goalie’ description – Kepa was once the world’s most expensive ever glovesman but made a mockery of that £72 million price-tag with a series of high-profile errors – the 30-year-old Spain international would still represent a solid piece of business this summer thanks to a £5 million release clause in his Stamford Bridge contract.
Kepa, formerly of Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, went about his business quietly but impressively on loan at Bournemouth last season.
He kept eight clean sheets in 31 matches for Andoni Iraola’s outfit. As many as Areola and Lukasz Fabianski managed between them under Potter and Julen Lopetegui.
According to Sky Sports, Arsenal are the club furthest down the line in pursuit of Kepa.
Though if West Ham were to throw their own hat into the ring, while offering the sort of first-team football unavailable at the Emirates with David Raya firmly established as Mikel Arteta’s pick, the one-time Champions League winner may have a dilemma to decipher.
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