West Ham players celebrate. (Getty Images)
According to FCInterNews (h/t Daily Star), West Ham are interested in signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Andrei Radu, who is currently on loan at Genoa.
Andrei Radu, 22, was loaned out to Genoa by Inter Milan last summer and was supposed to be the first choice for the Rossoblu this term. Genoa decided to bring Mattia Perin back from Juventus this January, a move that has prompted the Romanian shot-stopper to look for a new employer and find regular first-team football, claim FCInterNews. (h/t Daily Star)
Although Samir Handanovic is currently Inter’s first-choice goalkeeper, the Slovenian is 35 and Radu is viewed as his long-term replacement. As a result, Inter will consider letting him join another club on loan where he is guaranteed game time but they are not looking to sell, the report adds. (h/t The Daily Star)
Having starred at the Under-21 European Championships over the summer, Radu hasn’t been able to replicate his performances at the club level with Genoa. The 22-year-old has been the first choice between the sticks for Rossoblu, playing 17 Serie A games, conceding 35 goals and only keeping two clean sheets.
That being said, should Radu be considered by West Ham, who are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper following Lukasz Fabianski’s injury for the second time this season?
The Hammers have real problems in the goalkeeping department. It remains to be seen for how long Fabianski will be out after he picked up an injury against Sheffield United last week. But, given the disastrous performances of Roberto and the mistake David Martin made against Sheffield United, David Moyes needed a new goalkeeper.
And the cries for an experienced short-term term cover has been answered as West Ham have confirmed re-signing Darren Randolph from Middlesbrough. Randolph departed the Hammers in 2017 but Moyes has brought the shot-stopper back to east London amid a goalkeeping injury crisis and the awful form of Roberto.
Randolph’s recent form with Boro suggests that he is more than good enough to provide cover for the injured Fabianski. He is certainly more reliable than Roberto and Martin, as well as the inexperienced and error-prone Radu.
At 22, Radu is obviously inexperienced and a move to the Premier League might prove to be very challenging for him, especially if he is expected to make an instant impact at West Ham. Having signed Randolph, the Hammers must avoid signing Radu for the time being.