West Ham United are reportedly closing in on the permanent capture of Alphonse Areola in a £10.5 million from Paris Saint-Germain.
According to The Sun, West Ham United are close to signing Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint-Germain in a £10.5 million deal. The report also adds that Areola is close to finalising his contract and personal terms, with an official announcement expected for early next week, subject to the completion of a medical.
The 29-year-old first arrived in the Premier League when he joined Fulham on a season-long loan deal from PSG for the 2020/21 season. Areola produced some spectacular displays in between the sticks for the Cottagers but could not stop them from succumbing to relegation thanks to their goalscoring problems.
West Ham came calling for another loan last summer, but the Frenchman played second fiddle to Lukasz Fabianski in the Premier League this past season, starting only one league game. That outing came only when Fabianski was ruled out due to injury.
However, the PSG ace has done more than enough to warrant a permanent move to the London Stadium. When called upon in cup competitions, Areola has proven to be a highly reliable last line of defence and was critical to the Irons’ run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, starting in 11 of their 12 matches.
West Ham are closing on Alphonse Areola deal, after verbal agreement on personal terms as reported last Thursday – it's all set to complete the deal next week. Gonna be a permanent transfer. ⚒️?? #WHUFC
Contacts between clubs on final details are ongoing.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 25, 2022
It was reported earlier this month that the Hammers hold an option to buy Areola this summer, but the player’s £120,000-a-week wages forced the Hammers to renegotiate the deal on their terms. But things became complicated due to the outside interest from Newcastle United and Fulham.
West Ham made a big move earlier this week by snapping up Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd for a fee in the region of £30 million. Newcastle apparently made multiple attempts to hijack West Ham’s pursuit of Aguerd but to no avail.
Similarly, there were also reports that the Magpies were trying to hijack another West Ham deal, causing quite a stir among the Hammers’ faithful. But that does not appear to be the case, Newcastle have since signed Nick Pope from Burnley, while the Hammers are on the verge of sealing a move for the PSG ace.
Given that first-choice goalkeeper, Fabianski, 37, will be out of contract next season, bringing a younger, long-term replacement for the Pole was always likely to be one of David Moyes’s major priorities this summer.
Despite being utilised in a reduced role last term, Areola is a top-class goalkeeper who can be a safe pair of hands in the West Ham goal for the next seven or eight years, with the capability to overtake current number one Fabianski next season.
Should the Hammers announce the transfer early next week as reported, Areola will become the second acquisition of the summer, with the club already bringing the highly-rated Aguerd through the door. A backup striker is next on West Ham’s agenda, with rumours of heavy interest in Chelsea youngster Armando Broja swirling around.
