Frank McAvennie: West Ham should let Darren Randolph leave in January
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie believes West Ham are well-stacked in the goalkeeping department and should let Darren Randolph leave the club in January.
Randolph, 34, returned to the London Stadium in 2020 for a second stint with the Irons after initially departing for Middlesbrough in 2017, following two years in east London.
However, he has made just 10 appearances over the last 22 months, and he is now third-choice after the arrival of Alphonse Areola in the summer.
Lukasz Fabianski is currently David Moyes’ number one while West Ham boss can also count on 35-year-old David Martin as an option.
Football London journalist Tom Clark named Randolph as the most likely player to leave the club in January, suggesting the Championship as his next destination.
Former West Ham forward McAvennie, who scored 60 goals in 190 appearances for the club across the 1980s and 90s [WHUFC website], believes Randolph should be granted an Irons exit.
“They’ve still got Martin as well, they’ve got decent back-ups,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“Good luck to the boy, let him go.”
Randolph’s contract does not expire until 2023 [Transfermarkt], so his potential departure lies firmly in his hands.
Moyes is unlikely to want him to leave, as clubs these days tend to want at least three goalkeepers of Premier League standard now.
Martin is not in that, but Randolph probably could be considered at the lower end of the spectrum.
The Republic of Ireland shot-stopper is probably earning a decent enough wage, so it all comes down to whether he wants to regain his national team spot which he has lost recently.
He has not been named in Stephen Kenny’s squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
In other West Ham news, Bianca Westwood is stunned by David Moyes’ transfer admission on this prolific striker.
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