Dharmesh Sheth: Areola is primary target for West Ham after Johnstone bid rejected
West Ham see Paris Saint-Germain’s Alphonse Areola as their number one goalkeeper target after a bid for Sam Johnstone was rejected by West Brom, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
The Sky Sports News journalist reports that West Ham’s £6million bid for Johnstone, 28, was kicked into touch by the Baggies.
As a result, it is understood that David Moyes will now focus his attention on signing 28-year-old Areola from PSG after he impressed on loan at Fulham in the Premier League last season.
“They’ve had a bid rejected, we believe to be around £6million, by West Brom for their keeper, England ‘keeper, Sam Johnstone,” said Sheth on Sky Sports News on Thursday, as shown in a clip on the Football Daily Twitter account.
“I’ve been told today that West Ham’s primary target remains the PSG ‘keeper Alphonse Areola. Talks are continuing with PSG over a loan with an option to buy.
“It is clear that West Ham United are in the market for a goalkeeper. Lukasz Fabianski is 36-years-old, he’s entered the final year of his contract so talk of Alphonse Areola will continue.”
Either will do
We’d be happy with either Johnstone or Areola but at the moment, it seems as though a deal for Areola is more likely.
The France international did well for Fulham last season as he kept nine clean sheets in 36 Premier League appearances.
Of course, Fulham were relegated but Areola did well during his loan spell at Craven Cottage.
Would he want to return to London this summer? We think that’s a possibility, especially as his chances of game-time at PSG have taken a major hit due to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival in the French capital.
As for Johnstone, he’s in the last year of his contract at West Brom.
Let’s say we sign Areola on loan with an option to buy and that loan spell doesn’t work out. We could let the Frenchman go back to PSG and then sign Johnstone on a free transfer if no one else snaps him up and if West Brom don’t agree a new contract with him.
Either way, Fabianski is good enough for us for next season. Any new addition in between the sticks should be someone for the future.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are in talks to sign this player who could be a mainstay for Moyes next season.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Hammers and more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.