Loaned to West Ham United for the season by Paris Saint-Germain, Alphonse Aréola has been an excellent backup to Lukasz Fabianski for the Hammers.
It’s perhaps not the role he was hoping for, making just 14 appearances in all competitions, with only one of those coming in the Premier League, but he’s kept seven clean sheets along the way, and was key in the game against Sevilla, keeping out the Spaniards to help the London side make it to the next round of the Europa League.
What his future holds, no one really knows yet, but there are rumblings in France that West Ham could keep him going forward, as they know their starter is ageing and will need replacing sooner rather than later.
This is what RMC Sport journalist Salim Baungally told Foot Mercato on Friday, explaining the Aréola situation to the French audience, as he continues to be the number three goalkeeper in Didier Deschamps’ plans for the France national team.
Baungally said: “No one knows if he’s going to stay yet, but West Ham like him a lot. Fabianski is in front of him, but Aréola will eventually start ahead of him. The goal is to have a goalkeeper for years to come.”
