Former West Ham goalkeeper Jimmy Walker has predicted a ‘fight’ for the number one spot at the London Stadium in the near future.
The Hammers have further strengthened their goalkeeping department this summer with the additions of Alphonse Areola on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and Scotland youth starlet Brian Kinnear following a successful trial.
Competition for a starting berth now stretches across the newly signed duo, Darren Randolph, David Martin and last season’s first-choice stopper Lukasz Fabianski.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Walker has heaped praise on the options at David Moyes’ disposal.
This group looks to be the best group since then (2004-2009). Lukasz Fabianski has been brilliant. He’s a top-five goalkeeper, but he’s 36, and when you get older things start to give way on you a bit, and he showed a few signs of that last season. All in all, he was fantastic and when he played well, he was excellent – you have to have a top keeper to finish sixth. So he won’t give up that No. 1 spot that easily and Areola will have to fight to get the jersey. If Areola gets in, you can’t see him being dislodged. Darren Randolph is capable and I’m impressed by Kinnear.
Despite succumbing to relegation last season while on loan at Fulham, Areola impressed in the Premier League and the 28-year-old comes with vast experience at the elite level.
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Moyes has certainly given himself a major selection headache by adding such strength in depth.
It’s likely French stopper Areola will be given the chance to impress on the opening day against Newcastle United, albeit Fabianski would be worthy of a continued show of faith.
One thing is for sure if any unwelcome injuries crop up in the department, the Hammers have more than enough quality to cover.
