West Ham United's first-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola could be playing his final match for the club this evening as the Hammers face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The 32-year-old French shot-stopper is reportedly the subject of transfer interest from Turkish side Besiktas, with speculation mounting ahead of the January deadline.
Goalkeeping Instability at the London Stadium
This season has seen significant turbulence in West Ham's goalkeeping department. The club invested £20 million last summer to sign Mads Hermansen from Leicester City, with manager Graham Potter immediately installing the 25-year-old as his starting goalkeeper. However, after conceding 11 goals in the opening four matches of the campaign, Hermansen was dropped from the first team.
Areola reclaimed the number one position and has since started every Premier League match, with Hermansen relegated to bench duties. The London outfit further highlighted their concerns by unexpectedly bringing back veteran goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who had departed the club at the end of the previous season.
Besiktas Emerge as Serious Suitors
According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Besiktas are actively exploring a deal to sign Areola before the transfer window closes. The Turkish club are reportedly keen to secure the services of the experienced goalkeeper, who remains under contract with West Ham until 2027.
Areola joined West Ham in July 2021 and has made 120 appearances for the club across all competitions. The former Fulham and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper has established himself as a reliable presence between the posts, though his future now appears uncertain.
Potential Replacement Already Identified
Should Areola depart the London Stadium, West Ham have already identified a potential replacement in Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. The 22-year-old Czech shot-stopper only joined Spurs twelve months ago but has struggled to displace first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario under manager Thomas Frank.
Reports from talkSPORT indicate that discussions are well advanced regarding a potential £15 million move for Kinsky to West Ham. Although the young goalkeeper has seen limited action this season, he impressed during a run of games last year when Vicario was sidelined through injury. His debut came in a memorable 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool, with then-manager Ange Postecoglou praising his outstanding performance.
What This Means for West Ham's Future
The potential departure of Areola represents another chapter in West Ham's ongoing search for stability in the goalkeeping position. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is believed to be considering changes to his squad before the transfer window closes, with the goalkeeper situation appearing particularly fluid.
While Areola is expected to start against Chelsea this evening, this could potentially mark his final appearance in a West Ham shirt if Besiktas formalise their interest with a concrete offer. The match takes on added significance for the experienced Frenchman, who will be hoping to end his West Ham tenure on a positive note should this prove to be his farewell performance.
The coming days will prove crucial in determining West Ham's goalkeeping setup for the remainder of the season, with the club potentially facing significant changes between the posts as the January transfer window reaches its conclusion.
