West Ham are expected to be in the market for a goalkeeper this summer after Lukasz Fabianski left the club.
The Pole had been a key figure at the club since signing from Swansea City in 2018, going on to keep 50 clean sheets in 216 first-team appearances.
But over the last two seasons, Alphonse Areola has mostly been preferred to Fabianski, under each of David Moyes, Julen Lopetegui and now Graham Potter.
However, Areola has struggled to be a convincing long-term option between the sticks for the Hammers, having kept just eight clean sheets in 64 Premier League appearances since signing from PSG in 2021.
Potter likes to have a goalkeeper who is also good with his feet, which is an attribute Areola consistently failed to show since the former Chelsea bosses’ arrival.
Graham Potter is ‘big admirer’ of Ramsdale
According to talkSPORT, Potter is a big admirer of Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The England international joined the Saints from Arsenal last summer but was unable to prevent them from being relegated straight back to the Championship, conceding 66 goals and keeping only three clean sheets in 30 Premier League appearances.
The 27-year-old is now expected to make a swift exit from St. Mary’s Stadium as new boss Will Still seeks to get his £100k-a-week wages off the books.
The report claims Southampton would be willing to entertain bids in the region of £20m for the former Arsenal and Bournemouth shot-stopper.
West Ham hold talks over Ramsdale transfer
talkSPORT’s report claims West Ham and Ramsdale have been in discussions over a potential summer switch back to the capital.
Ramsdale, who has kept 41 clean sheets in 183 career Premier League appearances, is eager to make a swift return to the Premier League this summer in order to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans.
For him to do that, though, it’s likely he would be looking for assurances that he will be Potter’s first choice goalkeeper next season.
That could cause issues for Areola, who will undoubtedly be unwilling to move back to being West Ham’s back-up goalkeeper having spent two seasons in that role before eventually ousting Fabianski at London Stadium.
That means Potter might need to recruit at least two goalkeepers this season if he is seriously considering replacing Areola as his first choice. Wes Foderingham remains at the club as third choice, but it’s unclear whether he is considered to be up to the standards Potter is looking for as a back up goalkeeper.
At £20m, Ramsdale represents a fairly good deal financially but there remains question marks over his ability to perform at the highest level.
Indeed, he was replaced by David Raya at Arsenal after just two seasons at the Emirates Stadium, while he also has three Premier League relegations on his CV having previously gone down with Bournemouth and Sheffield United.
That has undoubtedly raised concerns about his ability to play for a club with ambitions of competing for European qualification, such as West Ham.
