West Ham star with 120 appearances could play final game v Chelsea amid transfer links
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Nuno Espirito Santo could look for a change between the sticks at West Ham before the close of the January window.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola could play his final game for the club against Chelsea today amid reports of transfer interest in the player’s services.
The goalkeeping position has not been a stable one at the London Stadium this term. The Hammers spent £20 million on former Leicester City man Mads Hermansen last summer and the 25-year-old was immediately ushered into the starting XI by Graham Potter.
However, after a porous start to the season which saw West Ham concede 11 in four matches, Hermansen was dropped. Areola reclaimed the first choice spot and has played every Premier League match since, with Hermansen warming the bench.
Besiktas linked with Alphonse Areola transfer move
The London outfit also made the unexpected decision to bring back veteran Lukasz Fabianski, who had just left the club at the end of the previous campaign. That move pointed to a lack of faith in the options available.
Transfer speculation in the goalkeeping position has continued through January. Now, Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg claims that Turkish outfit Besiktas are exploring a move to sign Areola.
On Wednesday, Plettenberg wrote: “Understand Besiktas are exploring a deal to sign Alphonse #Areola before Deadline Day. The 32 y/o is under contract with West Ham until 2027.”
Areola joined West Ham in July 2021 and has gone on to play 120 matches for the club. Any exit is not expected to come before West Ham travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on this evening.
West Ham eye Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper
The Frenchman looks set to start that match under Nuno but, should Besiktas push for a transfer, it could be his last appearance for the club. The former Fulham and Paris Saint-Germain man could be replaced by Tottenham Hotspur star Antonin Kinsky.
West Ham have been linked with interest in the Spurs star, who only signed for the club 12 months ago, as he struggles to oust Guglielmo Vicario from the number one role under Thomas Frank.
talkSPORT reports that talks are well underway to bring the 22-year-old to the London Stadium with a £15 million price tag put on the deal. While Kinsky hasn’t played much football this season, he did have a run of games shortly after signing for Spurs under Ange Postecoglou last season with Vicario out injured. The goalkeeper made his debut in a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, with the Australian boss hailing him as ‘outstanding’.
In other news, West Ham now interested in ex-Premier League striker with 'big potential'.