West Ham are in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer, with Alphonse Areola potentially the only option remaining for next season as Lukasz Fabianski’s contract nears its end.
Areola has been the favoured goalkeeper since Potter’s arrival, starting the last 10 games, but the 32-year-old has kept just two clean sheets in those games.
With Fabianski seeing little game time over the last few months, a departure in the summer at the end of his contract is expected for the 40-year-old after a successful seven-year spell at the club.
As a result, the Hammers have started exploring other goalkeeping options for the transfer window, including Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale and Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher.
With Southampton officially relegated from the Premier League, an exit for Ramsdale is looking likely, with the England international surely after top-flight football next season, while Kelleher has struggled for game time since Alisson’s return from injury.
Ramsdale or Kelleher?
Ramsdale has been part of a defence that has conceded 77 league goals this season, but it’s hard to place the blame on the former Arsenal man given the team’s overall poor campaign.
In fact, the 26-year-old has been the Saints’ top performer this season, according to SofaScore, with an average match rating of 7.2.
Kelleher is another 26-year-old goalkeeper on Graham Potter’s radar.
The Republic of Ireland international has impressed when playing in goal for the league leaders, filling in for arguably the best goalkeeper in the world.
Kelleher has played 20 games for the Reds this campaign and has conceded just as many goals, which makes for impressive reading.
Both goalkeepers have reportedly been valued at £20million by their respective clubs, and given their age and Premier League experience, it feels like a more than fair price – one the Hammers should be looking to capitalise on.
Potter has inherited a squad that isn’t his, but we could see a more free-flowing style of football next season if he brings in the players he wants this summer, and a goalkeeper who is comfortable on the ball will be crucial to making that vision a reality.
