West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee has shared a latest update regarding the future of on-loan stopper, Alphonse Areola.

What's the word?

The respected source has revealed that the Frenchman is edging ever closer toward a permanent deal at the London Stadium, having spent the campaign on loan from Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain.

Asked about any fresh news regarding the 29-year-old's future, the club insider revealed on Twitter that an agreement could be imminent, once wage issues are ironed out: "Hoping to conclude soon but talks still going on over fee/wages."

That corroborates with an update from Fabrizio Romano, with the transfer guru revealing that the Hammers are set to activate the three-cap international's buyout clause - the fee said to be in the region of €9m (£7.6m).

Moyes delighted

It may not be a marquee arrival, with the former Fulham man having already been at the club over the past year, yet David Moyes will surely be delighted to be edging closer towards confirmation of a deal, with any manager set to be pleased with getting their summer business done swiftly.

Further additions also appear in the works, amid reports that Rennes centre-back Nayef Aguerd could be on his way to east London in a £13m deal, with the 26-year-old, Morrocan star strengthening what had been a problem area at times last term.

As for Areola, the World Cup winner will provide adequate cover or even direct replacement to first-choice 'keeper Lukasz Fabianski, with the 37-year-old still going strong even in his advancing years.

The one-time Real Madrid man could run him close next term, however, if his permanent move is secured, having impressed during the club's run to the Europa League semi-finals, keeping five clean sheets in his 11 games in the competition, while only missing the first group game away at Dinamo Zagreb.

The £8.1m-rated gem has also previously shown his quality during his stint at Craven Cottage during the 2020/21 season, recording 116 saves in the top-flight - the fifth-most in the division - despite Scott Parker's side ultimately suffering a swift return to the second tier.

While he only made a single league outing in the most recent campaign - with that solitary appearance coming in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United back in January - he has seemingly shown enough quality in the past to prove a reliable backup option moving forward, or may even usurp the aforementioned Fabianski.

Whatever the case, Moyes will no doubt be delighted to have two goalkeepers of such quality on his books, while the speed of the impending deal will allow them to also prioritise other targets.

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