Nuno Espirito Santo, the manager of West Ham, is facing a crucial Premier League showdown against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium tonight. The pressure is mounting on Santo, with the consensus being that anything less than three points in this pivotal match could spell the end of his short tenure at the club.
In a bid to revitalize the team’s performance, West Ham has shown faith in Santo by backing him in the January transfer window. The club has already secured the signings of Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente and Taty Castellanos from Lazio for a combined fee of nearly £50 million. While these additions are expected to inject more firepower into West Ham’s attacking lineup, there is a pressing need for defensive stability following their recent concession of three goals against Wolves.
Central to this defensive makeover is the goalkeeper position, where Alphonse Areola has been the incumbent choice. Despite Areola’s presence being lauded as one of the bright spots under Santo, there are reservations about whether he possesses the level of skill and leadership required by West Ham. The recent shortcomings highlighted by Hammers News, particularly his error against Brighton and distribution issues, have raised concerns about Areola’s overall effectiveness as the team’s last line of defense.
As a potential replacement for Areola, West Ham has set their sights on Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento. Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has disclosed that an official bid has been tabled for the Brazilian shot-stopper, indicating the club’s interest in securing his services. Reports suggest that the proposed deal involves a loan agreement with an option to buy for £10 million, underscoring West Ham’s commitment to addressing their goalkeeping woes.
Should the transfer of Bento come to fruition, it could signal the end of Areola’s stint as the first-choice goalkeeper for West Ham. With upcoming fixtures against QPR in the FA Cup and Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon, Santo may opt to make the transition in goalkeeping personnel sooner rather than later as the team navigates a pivotal phase in their campaign.
