West Ham tipped to hijack Newcastle United transfer with £20m plan

West Ham are being linked with a Premier League goalkeeper as they reportedly look to strengthen the position this summer. The Hammers have an interesting summer ahead of them as they look to add quality to a number of positions, with Graham Potter needing to put his own stamp on his squad.

Potter has endured a torrid time of things so far, failing to improve on Julen Lopetegui’s record since arriving to take the place of the Spaniard in January. It was hoped that the Irons could go into next season with a little momentum and a big slice of optimism. But instead, it looks as though Potter will be walking a tightrope from the word ‘go’ after the struggles he has endured this term.

Potter and the club’s recruitment staff are going to have to get plenty this summer in a bid to turn things around, and it’s reported that one of the positions they want to strengthen is the goalkeeper position. West Ham currently have Alphonse Areola as their starting goalkeeper, but while it is not old for a goalkeeper, the Spaniard is 32 years of age, and the Irons will surely see Łukasz Fabiański leave or retire this season, and Wes Foderingham is 34 years of age himself.

The Hammers need better competition and more youth in the goalkeeping department, and according to CaughtOffside, they could rival Newcastle United for Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale is expected to be on the move this summer due to the Saints suffering relegation from the top tier.

Southampton signed Ramsdale for £25million from Arsenal last summer, and it’s reported they want to make at least £20million of that back, with the Hammers reportedly willing to offer that amount. Ramsdale is said to have a release clause in case of relegation, and that figure is reportedly set at £25million.

Newcastle are said to be considering triggering that clause, although they are going to have to balance their spending again this summer, and much will depend on whether they are successful in qualifying for the Champions League. A number of clubs are said to be sniffing around Ramsdale, and West Ham could well come up against competition for his signature.

Ramsdale was number one at Arsenal until the then surprise arrival of David Raya, and he later left the club to join Southampton in their first season back in the Premier League. Later explaining that decision, he told BBC Sport: "If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldn’t have meant that much to me.

"I just wanted to play football. As a kid I wanted to play football to play, not to just sit on a bench. Getting out and playing was my aim so I'm lucky I found myself here at Southampton."

This season has not gone to plan for the Saints, who have conceded 80 goals and they are yet to surpass Derby County’s worst-ever Premier League points total of 11, currently sat on that figure.

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