West Ham free agent must offer services to Millwall after Charlton Athletic rejection - opinion

Lukasz Fabianski remains on the hunt for a new club this summer after leaving West Ham as a free agent. The 40-year-old ended a seven year stay at the London Stadium but is keen to keep playing at a high level.

The Polish shot-stopper made 14 Premier League appearances last term and, despite his age, still has plenty to offer. Fabianski can join a new side without a transfer fee to be paid.

A club statement in May read: “West Ham United can confirm that Aaron Cresswell, Łukasz Fabiański, Vladimír Coufal and Danny Ings will leave the Club when their contracts expire at the end of the 2024/25 season.

“The four members of our 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League-winning squad all played their part in one of the most successful periods in West Ham United’s history, and will depart having made a combined total of more than 800 first-team appearances between them.

“Fabiański, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, achieved the same feat, winning the Hammer of the Year award in 2019 after joining from Swansea City the previous summer. The Polish international goalkeeper has played 215 times so far in his seven seasons at the Club.”

Charlton Athletic turn down chance to sign West Ham free agent

It had been reported that Fabianski was keen to carry on living in London and, as a result, his representatives had offered his services to Charlton Athletic. Nathan Jones’ side have just risen to the Championship but turned down the chance to sign the former West Ham man.

Instead, the Addicks have recruited former Luton Town goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski in an impressive coup. That puts Fabianski back to the drawing board.

In the Premier League, there don’t appear to be any realistic London options for the goalkeeper. Arsenal have just brought in Kepa Arrizabalaga to provide back-up for David Raya and Tottenham Hotspur signed Antonin Kinsky in January. Chelsea have more goalkeeping options than they know what to do with.

Over at Crystal Palace, Walter Benitez has already arrived from PSV Eindhoven to challenge Dean Henderson. At Brentford, the highly-rated Caoimhín Kelleher has been signed to take over from Mark Flekken.

Fulham would perhaps be the club still interested in a goalkeeping addition with just Bernd Leno and Steven Benda on their roster, but those two players have a combined age of 59 years old and the club would likely want a younger option.

Fabianski could consider Millwall contact

Dropping down to the Championship, Charlton Athletic have already said no. QPR bought Paul Nardi last summer and he looks set to continue under compatriot Julien Stephan, with back-up Joe Walsh just signing a new contract.

Millwall are one club known to be in the market for a goalkeeper. Liam Roberts has left The Den to join Mansfield Town and first choice Lukas Jensen is set to be sidelined with an Achilles injury. That problem was confirmed in April with Millwall boss Alex Neil saying that he would miss a ‘fair chunk of next season’.

Max Crocombe has arrived from Burton Albion on a free transfer, but has never played in the Championship at 31 years old. George Evans has also extended his contract but is 20 years old and has just four senior appearances for the Lions to his name.

Alex Neil starting the season with Crocombe and Evans seems a little risky for a club targeting a top six finish. If Fabianski is desperate to stay in the capital, showing keen to Millwall and perhaps offering himself on a short-term deal could be the best play available to him.

In other news, Millwall must use Viktor Gyokeres to convince player to reject Everton and Wolves interest - opinion.