Mike Maignan reacts to Alphonse Areola’s message as West Ham line up ‘£20m replacement’
Alphonse Areola is not guaranteed to be West Ham United’s number one next season despite the departure of Lukasz Fabianski.
Graham Potter and his predecessor Julen Lopetegui both favoured Areola between the sticks last season and he made 26 appearances in all competitions to Fabianski’s 17, but his displays were far from perfect.
West Ham fans were happy to see the back of Areola this summer after an error-strewn performance in their penultimate match of the season against Nottingham Forest, but he is still Potter’s first choice.
Fabianski’s exit at the end of his contract came after the veteran’s 40th birthday, but Areola could soon be on the outer at 32 after Football Insider revealed West Ham’s interest in signing Aaron Ramsdale.
Areola checks in for West Ham amid transfer uncertainty
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that West Ham have set aside 40million in their summer transfer budget to buy a new goalkeeper, with Potter keen to bring in competition for Areola.
Mads Hermansen is high on the Hammers’ shortlist after Football Insider revealed that Leicester would be willing to sell the Denmark international for £20m, and this could see Areola demoted to number two.
Areola first-choice in Potter’s side for the time being though, and posted on Instagram (25 July) after West Ham‘s first training session in New Jersey ahead of their Premier League Summer Series matches.
AC Milan number one and Areola’s international team-mate Mike Maignan liked the post, which included a US flag, ‘check mark’ emoji, and the hashtags #COYI and #AA23.
Areola’s prospects in doubt as West Ham rebuild continues
Football Insider Verdict
Completing a deal for Hermansen or any other potential first-choice goalkeeper would complete the defensive rebuild Potter has embarked on this summer, with two brand-new signings made already.
Kyle Walker-Peters’ arrival on a free transfer followed the £19m move made by Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf to give Potter sufficient wing-back depth, alongside Jean-Clair Todibo’s switch from Nice.
Maignan was the subject of a cut-price bid from Chelsea to sign the Milan keeper earlier this summer, and if Potter’s attempt to bring down the average age of his squad can include an outlier, West Ham could do much worse than exploring Maignan as an option.