Despite being bought to ensure the long-term future of the goalkeeper role at West Ham United once Lukasz Fabianski hangs up his gloves, Alphone Aréola is having to wait a bit longer than first anticipated.
The Pole recently renewed for an extra year, suggesting he will continue to be David Moyes’ number one between the sticks, and that means the 30-year-old Frenchman will have to make do with more European competitions and domestic cups.
That’s why there has been talk of him potentially leaving, with Corriere dello Sport claiming that Fiorentina are eyeing up a potential move for the West Ham goalkeeper.
Aréola only made 23 appearances in all competitions last season, with 13 of those coming in the Conference League, but he has always impressed when called upon, meaning he is reliable.
Fiorentina, down their end, are eyeing up a variety of candidates, which include the West Ham man, Timo Horn and Dominik Livakovic.
When it comes to Aréola, they state he is an ‘excellent profile’ for the Serie A side, and his exit ‘would be justified’ by the fact he is number two in London.
However, the fact he is protected by a contract until 2027 means he would be ‘a much more expensive investment’ than Horn, with Fiorentina needing to put ‘at least €10m’ on the table to get him.
A lot could also depend on what the player himself wants to do, as he could be happy to wait another year until Fabianski leaves, at which point he could finally establish himself as the undisputed number one between the sticks at the London Stadium.
