West Ham United Are In Talks To Land This Experienced Keeper: Decent Fit For The Hammers? | OneFootball

In a recent report, The Evening Standard mentioned that West Ham United are in talks to land Sheffield United keeper Wes Foderingham who is set to become a free agent soon. It has been claimed that the Hammers are hoping to land the English goalie on a free transfer this summer.

Foderingham has endured a tough campaign at Bramall Lane but managed to put in a few impressive displays for the Blades in the Premier League. The 33-year-old has shipped in 79 goals and kept two clean sheets in 31 matches for Sheffield this season across various competitions.

The London-born talent deserves some credit for averaging 1.0 clearances and 7.6 long balls per game in the Premier League. However, he has lacked accuracy when distributing the ball from the back after making 52.6% of his attempted passes in the English top flight (stats via whoscored).

Foderingham’s current deal at the Yorkshire club will run out at the end of next month. Hence, West Ham could acquire his services on a free transfer later this summer.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 18: Wes Foderingham of Sheffield United shouts instructions to his teammates during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Bramall Lane on February 18, 2024 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Is Foderingham A Good Fit For West Ham United?

Foderingham is an experienced keeper who has decent reflexes that help him make a few solid saves at the back. He is a good handler of the ball and usually goes long with his goal-kicks.

The English custodian doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when being chased down by the opposition attackers. However, he has to find a way to improve his ball distribution if he wants to play an important role for West Ham next season.

We can expect Foderingham to add more depth to the East London club’s goalkeeping department. He might even help the Hammers compete across all fronts in the coming seasons, so he would be a good fit for West Ham’s needs in the short-term.

At 33, Foderingham has still got a couple of good seasons left in him to play at the highest level. Thus, it makes sense for West Ham to offer him a short-term contract when he becomes a free agent next month. However, Foderingham is not good enough to challenge Alphonse Areola and Lukasz Fabianski for a regular starting spot at the London Stadium and would be the clear, third-choice goalkeeping option for West Ham.