Chelsea is reportedly considering a surprising move for West Ham United’s goalkeeper Alphonse Areola in January.
The West Ham star, Alphonse Areola, has apparently caught the attention of Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window due to impressive performances since establishing himself as the number one goalkeeper at the London Stadium.
The 30-year-old initially joined the Hammers from Paris Saint-Germain on loan in the summer of 2021 before making his move permanent the following summer for approximately £7.8 million (The Daily Mail).
However, it wasn’t until the beginning of this season that the French international replaced Lukasz Fabianski as the first-choice Premier League goalkeeper.
David Moyes has taken a patient approach with the 6ft 5in goalkeeper, and he has delivered strong performances this season. However, he is not without his flaws.
In the opinion of some, there are numerous goalkeepers who are superior to Areola, making it a surprise if Chelsea were to make a move for him this winter.
Football journalist Dean Jones has suggested to Give Me Sport that a potential move to sign the Hammers’ goalkeeper might appeal to Chelsea in January, given certain developments in the goalkeeper market.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is currently sidelined with a knee injury, which is why Mauricio Pochettino’s reported interest in securing goalkeeping cover during the winter window comes as no surprise.
However, one of the keepers in his sights seems to be somewhat unexpected.
Speculation around Areola’s potential move to Chelsea has sparked discussions about how he measures up against Fabianski. While Areola has been commendable, some argue that Fabianski still holds the upper hand in terms of commanding his area, communication with defenders, and distribution.
Despite the Frenchman’s decent performances and remarkable saves for the Hammers, there appears to be some skepticism about his overall capabilities. Hence, if Chelsea were indeed to pursue Alphonse Areola in January, it would come as a significant surprise.
