West Ham summer signing ready to leave Hammers in January after tough start to life at London Stadium
West Ham United suffered a disappointing 2–0 defeat to Liverpool over the weekend, bringing an end to their recent four-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. Goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo were enough to hand Nuno Espírito Santo’s men their first league loss in a month, though the scoreline could easily have been far more damaging.
Were it not for the heroics of Alphonse Areola, the Hammers might have endured a much heavier beating. The French goalkeeper produced a string of superb stops, preventing Liverpool from running riot and sparing West Ham’s already-vulnerable goal difference from further harm.
Yet, in a twist few anticipated at the start of the season, the goalkeeper signed to challenge Areola for the No. 1 shirt may already be nearing the exit door — barely months after his arrival.
One of Graham Potter’s final major decisions before his dismissal was to demote Areola and promote summer signing Mads Hermansen to first-choice goalkeeper. But Nuno Espírito Santo wasted little time overturning that call. Not only has he reinstated Areola as his starter, but he has also reinforced the Frenchman’s position with consistent praise and continued selection.
Hermansen’s introduction to life at West Ham has been nothing short of brutal. Signed from relegated Leicester City for close to £20 million, the 24-year-old Dane was thrown straight into the unforgiving spotlight of Premier League football. He conceded 11 of the 27 goals West Ham let in during the turbulent opening weeks of the campaign, and after just four league appearances, he was replaced by the very man he was meant to push aside.
Since returning to the starting XI, Areola has rediscovered his form, even if the results around him were initially poor. Despite losing four of his first five matches back between the posts, he has grown into one of West Ham’s most dependable performers, delivering key saves and bringing much-needed stability to a shaky back line.
His resurgence has left Hermansen stuck firmly on the bench, unable to force his way back into contention at club level — and still unable to dislodge Kasper Schmeichel for Denmark either. The situation is becoming increasingly untenable for a young goalkeeper with ambitions of being a regular starter.
According to former striker Clinton Morrison, a breaking point may soon be reached. Speaking on BBC 5 Live during the loss at Anfield, Morrison claimed, via GIVEMESPORT, that Hermansen’s West Ham future is already in jeopardy: “Alphonse Areola has made the jersey his own. West Ham brought in Mads Hermansen and paid a lot of money, and now it looks like he could be on the way as he’s not playing any football.”
He continued, praising the Frenchman’s recent displays: “Areola deserves to be number one — big saves last week to earn them a draw, and he’s made two crucial saves already.”
With the January transfer window approaching and no clear route back into the starting lineup, Hermansen may be forced to consider his options. What was expected to be a long-term investment for West Ham could instead result in a swift and disappointing departure, marking a surprisingly short and turbulent spell at the London Stadium for the once-highly-touted goalkeeper.