ExWHUemployee: West Ham do not want Alphonse Areola to be highest earner
West Ham do not want goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to be the highest paid player at the club, according to ExWHUemployee.
The Hammers have the option to sign the Frenchman permanently at the end of the season.
However, with Lukasz Fabianski expected to stay on for another year, they do not want to make his backup earn more than anyone else at the club.
Ex said on the West Ham Way Podcast, "The manager likes Areola and it's just that his wages are £125k/week. This would mean that he would be the highest-paid player and if he's going to be backup to Fabianski next year, you can't pay your backup keeper the highest wage at the club."
Makes sense
It is not advisable to pay that kind of money to a player who's probably not going to play more than 20 games a season.
Fabianksi is the undisputed number one and even if he wasn't, Areola certainly is not the best player at the club currently.
It remains to be seen if he brings down his wage demands or there's a good chance his future is away from the London Stadium.
He could be the club's first choice option for many years to come after Fabianski departs but he's going to have to be patient.
His performances in Europe have proven that he's good enough and now it's just to see whether the club can agree terms with him.
If they can't, there are many other keepers out there with Sam Johnstone being one of them.
In other West Ham news, a football finance expert has made a mammoth £200m Hammers claim amid recent speculation.