West Ham given Alphonse Areola clarity as free agent transfer ends Hammers speculation.
During a week in which Lukasz Fabianski was linked with a move to West Ham United’s London rivals Charlton Athletic, a former Valley custodian finds himself inheriting the gloves of the player expected to become Barcelona’s new number one.
Lukasz Fabianski, who is 40 years old, does not appear to be Charlton’s future first choice. The long-serving West Ham custodian turned down a return to Poland with Legia Warsaw in May, preferring a longer stay in the English capital for family reasons. It is anticipated that Fabianski will not join Championship newcomers Charlton Athletic, but the veteran free agent is still weighing his options. Meanwhile, a former Valley player has been given the terrible task of succeeding probably the most brilliant – and unquestionably influential – custodian of the 2024/25 La Liga season. And if West Ham United had planned to cash in on Alphonse Areola during an error-strewn Premier League campaign, Marko Dmitrovic’s move from Leganes to RCD Espanyol draws a firm line under that.
West Ham United handed Alphonse Areola blow as Joan Garcia joins Barcelona
Barcelona activated Joan Garcia’s £21 million release clause in his contract with Catalan neighbours Espanyol a week ago. The superb Spaniard, a cat-like reaction specialist cut from the same cloth as a teenage David de Gea, was possibly the primary reason Espanyol finished two points above the relegation zone last season. So the man stepping into a Joan Garcia-shaped void will face significant pressure from the start. Both from supporters and, most likely, opposing forwards. Marko Dmitrovic, who played five games for Charlton Athletic a decade ago, now works for Espanyol, along with Eibar, Sevilla, and Leganes. According to sources, Espanyol had first considered West Ham’s Alphonse Areola.
Joan Garcia’s exit from the RCDE Stadium has seemed imminent for over a year, so The Parakeets have had plenty of time to compile a lengthy list of potential successors. Now that Dmitrovic has signed a three-year contract with Espanyol, Areola is yet another West Ham player whose summer departure seems further away than ever.
West Ham handed Maxwel Cornet and Nayef Aguerd blows
Maxwel Cornet appeared to say goodbye to Genoa this week, as West Ham have struggled to reach an agreement with the Serie A club on a deal that would keep the London Stadium’s £17 million forgotten man in Italy. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad have parted ways with Nayef Aguerd. Another expensively bought talent who spent last season on loan, Aguerd has slipped behind Liverpool teenager Jarell Quansah on Leverkusen’s wishlist. Meanwhile, La Real is prioritising Igor of Brighton and Hove Albion. This, combined with the glacial pace of developments involving Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, Tomas Soucek, and others, means West Ham have yet to make a single euro from selling any of their first-team players this summer.Hammers News understands that West Ham recently contacted Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale. However, with a £25 million relegation clause in his contract, the Hammers risk losing Ramsdale to a club with the necessary cash. Because development at West Ham will be difficult to achieve until Areola, Aguerd, Cornet, and others depart.
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