Sky Sports reporter shares ‘new information’ on West Ham United signing of Alphonse Areola
Dharmesh Sheth has shared some new information on the West Ham deal to sign Alphonse Areola after the goalkeeper’s transfer was confirmed.
The Paris Saint-Germain man was in London to complete a medical over the weekend, after spending 2021/22 on loan at the London Stadium.
Fabrizio Romano first reported that the deal had been officially completed on Monday (27 June), before the club confirmed it shortly after.
The negotiations had taken some time to complete with the player, as the Hammers were thought to have triggered an expected £11million clause in his loan deal some time ago, but now it is done they appear to have actually made a surprise saving on the move.
Sky Sports News reporter Sheth wrote on Twitter after the transfer was announced: “Getting new information on the fee. Initially told it was £11m… been told today it’s £7.75m.”
Areola, 29, will compete with Lukasz Fabianski, 37, for time in the Irons goal for the upcoming season.
Bonus
It isn’t enough to change the fortunes of the club’s summer but a saving is never something to be sniffed at, so perhaps the elongated nature of the negotiations have turned out to be worth it.
The club side of things was not thought to be the problem, with it instead apparently becoming bogged down direct with Areola’s representatives.
But everything is now wrapped up and the reduced fee perhaps suggests there were ongoing discussions with the Ligue 1 giants as well.
The French international is the club’s second permanent signing of the summer after Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd, whose own price ended up being much higher than some reports, so it is a positive development that this one is apparently cheaper.
David Moyes puts a lot of stock in value for money so securing his prospective starting keeper of the future, once Fabianski eventually retires, for a low fee will surely have pleased him.
It is solid business but completely new arrivals are what truly excites fans during the summer, so focus will turn to who the Irons can bring in at striker, in midfield and potentially at left-back.