West Ham United transfer claim made about Aaron Ramsdale after Southampton deal
Tony Cottee says West Ham United should have signed Aaron Ramsdale in the summer as he blasted Alphonse Areola on talkSPORT on Wednsday.
The former Hammers striker has claimed the club’s first-choice goalkeeper is “not good enough” and described both he and Lukasz Fabianski – who conceded five at Liverpool on Wednesday night – as “number two goalkeepers”.
Speaking to Alan Brazil live on talkSPORT [26 September, 08:44], Cottee insisted the Irons should have gone in for Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Southampton from Arsenal on deadline day.
He said: “Aaron Ramsdale has gone to Southampton – why didn’t we sign him?
“In my opinion, Fabianski and Areola are number twos. Areola is a good shot-stopper, but he doesn’t command the box – I don’t know if there’s a language barrier – but then his distribution is not good enough.
“They need to change the ‘keeper.”
West Ham missed out on several targets
West Ham enjoyed an exciting and ambitious transfer window, but also missed out on several players they attempted to sign.
It is unclear whether the Irons wanted Ramsdale in the summer, after initial reports last season [Ben Jacobs, 3 March] that they “could be tempted” into a move while the England stopper was warming the Arsenal bench.
Tim Steidten did sign Wes Foderingham, formerly of Sheffield United and Rangers, on a free transfer as a backup option, but the club remain faithful in Areola as the leading number one in East London.
Fabianski will turn 40 before the end of this season and there needs to be a succession plan for another goalkeeper, as three senior stoppers have to be in the building.
For Ramsdale to have joined relegation candidates Southampton is a blow to the Hammers fans who would have seen him as an upgrade.
In other West Ham news, a new twist in the Lucas Paqueta case involving another player.
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