Lukasz Fabianski has been a tremendous signing and servant for West Ham United but he isn’t getting any younger.
Former West Ham midfielder Diego Poyet is unrecognisable and fans can’t believe it
Fabianski has been one of the best goalkeepers in West Ham’s modern history.
And his importance to the team was highlighted last season when an injury to the Hammers number one saw the club’s campaign spiral into freefall after a superb start which saw West Ham being tipped to challenge for a European place.
Reports claimed Moyes was worried over Fabianski ‘regression’
There have been question marks over Fabianski in some matches since his return from that injury.
Not too long ago there were reports were doing the rounds that David Moyes was concerned about his number one.
The likes of The Daily Mail and Claret & Hugh claimed Moyes and his management team felt Fabianski was ‘regressing’.
He has been more like his old self this season. And he was sharp enough to make some solid saves against Fulham.
West Ham may well extend his stay for another year. But does he risk sullying his brilliant reputation or should Fabianski bow out while on top?
The Poland international turns 36 this season. So West Ham must start considering a long-term successor soon.
Have West Ham just found Fab successor in Areola?
One of the bonuses of a frustrating display against Fulham could be that the Hammers may have found him, in the shape of Cottagers stopper Alphonse Areola.
The three-cap France international is owned by PSG. And he has pedigree having played on loan at Real Madrid.
But being loaned out at the age of 27 suggests his long-term future lies away from Paris.
Fulham have the option to make the move permanent. But first they need to make sure they stay in the Premier League.
If Fulham drop – indeed even if they don’t – West Ham should push hard for Areola.
PSG-owned but at 27 his future lies elsewhere
He has been one of the stars of the season so far. And he single-handedly kept Fulham in the game at the London Stadium.
West Ham had seven shots on target and five of them were kept out by Areola.
Three of those looked almost certain goals. Fierce volleys from Aaron Cresswell and Jarrod Bowen were pawed away before Areola somehow kept out Cresswell’s brilliant free-kick.
He could do nothing about Tomas Soucek’s winner. But Areola did not deserve to be on the losing side.
West Ham could do a lot worse than to snap him up at the end of the season.