West Ham United have swiftly moved on to a new goalkeeping target after being dealt a significant blow in their pursuit of Manchester City's James Trafford, with enquiries now made for Chelsea's Filip Jorgensen.
Hammers' Goalkeeping Conundrum Deepens
The Irons' urgent need to strengthen their squad during the January transfer window is clear. Currently sitting eight points from Premier League safety, the club faces a monumental task to avoid relegation, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo desperate for new recruits to fuel a survival push. While signings like Tony Castellanos and Pablo have arrived, the situation between the posts remains a pressing concern.
Alphonse Areola is the only fully trusted option, with Mads Hermansen failing to impress and veteran Lukasz Fabianski struggling with a persistent back injury. This vulnerability has made acquiring a reliable goalkeeper a top priority for the London club this month.
Trafford Hope Dashed by Guardiola
West Ham's initial focus appeared to be on Manchester City's James Trafford. However, any hope of a deal was effectively extinguished by City boss Pep Guardiola's recent public comments. Guardiola praised Trafford's reaction to the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma and expressed a clear desire for him to stay.
"He reacted really well. No complaints and James is a top keeper," Guardiola stated. "I would like him to stay for many, many years. But the situation of the keeper is special and we will see what happens." This firm stance from the reigning champions forced West Ham to look elsewhere.
Jorgensen Emerges as Prime Target
According to reports from TeamTalk, West Ham have now set their sights on Chelsea's number two goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen. The Hammers have reportedly made initial enquiries about the Danish shot-stopper, who has served as understudy to Robert Sanchez at Stamford Bridge.
A potential deal would likely be a loan move, but convincing Chelsea to sanction it presents a major hurdle. The Blues have other goalkeeping prospects out on loan, leaving only young Gabriel Slonina as cover should Jorgensen depart. Furthermore, Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior has previously lauded Jorgensen's abilities, labelling him and Sanchez as "world-class goalkeepers with their feet".
With the January window progressing, West Ham's recruitment team faces a race against time to secure a much-needed reinforcement in goal, with Filip Jorgensen now at the centre of their plans.
