West Ham in transfer mission to sign Noah Atubolu – Fabrizio Romano
West Ham United are monitoring young goalkeeper Noah Atubolu of Freiburg, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The established transfer journalist posted on X [17 December] that the Hammers are in the hunt for Atubolu, 22, who represents the Germany Under-21 team and is currently a regular in the Bundesliga side.
Romano claims the club are scouting Atubolu, who could be a potential successor to Lukasz Fabianski and Alphonse Areola, the current main two stoppers in Julen Lopetegui’s squad.
His post read: “Understand West Ham have been scouting Freiburg GK Noah Atubolu as potential future target.
“[A] 2002 born goalkeeper is also part of the [German] U21 national team.”
West Ham United scouting Noah Atubolu
West Ham are evidently on the lookout for their next long-term goalkeeper, which is unsurprising given their defensive record this term as an uncertain transfer window beckons.
Fabianski will be 40 by the time this season has concluded, and Areola does not appear to be fancied by Lopetegui as Tim Steidten continues his major transfer mission.
Atubolu is one of a rare crop of goalkeepers of his age who is the number one for his side in a top European league, having played 59 games for Freiburg’s first team.
The Hammers did bring in Wes Foderingham as a backup ‘keeper in the summer on a free transfer from Sheffield United, but this was with no intention of promoting him to the number one spot.
Atubolu is still eligible to play for Nigeria’s full national team as well as that of Germany, and could well see his stock drastically rise as he continues to turn in solid performances for the fifth-placed Bundesliga outfit who have conceded just 19 goals this term so far.
In other West Ham news, interest builds in a Chelsea midfielder as Enzo Maresca worries.
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