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Mon 24 July 2017 13:33, UK

By Harvey Byrne

West Ham will sign a replacement for goalkeeper Adrian this summer if he leaves the east London side, according to a club insider.

ExWHUemployee, who has proven to be a reliable source of Hammers transfer news has reported on his personal Twitter account on Monday that the club will seek a replacement if the 30-year-old Spaniard who doesn’t want to be second choice leave this summer.

Adrian has been a long-term servant of West Ham after joining in the summer of 2013, but the club have brought in Joe Hart on loan from Manchester City, while Darren Randolph, who enjoyed the most time between the sticks for the Hammers last season has been sold to Middlesbrough.

Adrian could now be close to following Randolph through the London Stadium exit doors with Newcastle and Crystal Palace now said to be interested in signing him.

Last season the experienced stopper, who has two years remaining on his contract at the club played just 19 times in all competitions, keeping six clean sheets and conceding on 36 occasions.

Football Insider verdict:

Adrian was once a very good goalkeeper for West Ham between the sticks, but last season his form dropped considerably and he was at fault for a number of errors. It could have been a case that the Spaniard simply got comfortable with his place in the team and knew that he would be starting the next week. However, West Ham have now replaced him with Hart in the squad and the Englishman certainly has not moved to sit on the bench. This means that if Adrian is set on not being the number two then his future does lie elsewhere and West Ham may be better off looking at a younger goalkeeper who can grow in their ranks to replace Adrian.

In other West Ham transfer news, this international goal machine is set to become the Hammers’ highest paid player.

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