Despite what would generally be considered a strong tournament by any goalkeeper's standards, Darren Randolph's days with West Ham appear to be numbered. The Bray man made 15 appearances for West Ham last season but has always played second fiddle to Slaven Bilic's preferred first choice Adrian in nets and now, according to reports this morning, Randolph is headed for the West Ham exit door in search of first team football.
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There are said to be a number of clubs in the Premier League and Championship willing to offer Randolph that opportunity and a bid somewhere in the region of £3 million should be enough to persuade The Hammers to part ways with the goalkeeper who was so impressive in France that he even pulled off a Cruyff turn against Italy.
What is it with the goalkeepers today ?? First Kiraly now Darren Randolph with a Cruyff Turn #ITA #ROI #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/YlAQdVJrfJ
— Connor Boylan (@connor_boylan) June 22, 2016
A source quoted by The Sun said of the situation:
We've all been so proud of Darren and it would come as no surprise were equities to start. He's a top level world class international and were a club to meet our valuation it would be hard to stand in his way.
We have no idea why anyone would use 'equities' in that context but we're just going to read it as 'negotiations'.
Randolph cemented himself as Ireland's first choice goalkeeper during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign after an uncertain time for goalkeepers in the post-Shay era.
Keiren Westwood and David Forde traded the #1 jersey for a couple of years, and Given himself even attempted a Lazarus-style comeback between the sticks, but it wasn't until an injury to Given against Germany in Dublin that Randolph was finally given his chance.
A string of fine saves and one assist to Shane Long later and Ireland had a new first choice goalkeeper.
Randolph has become the latest Irish player to be linked with a transfer after the Euros, following Robbie Brady's rumoured move to Leicester and rumours of Jeff Hendrick interesting everyone from Everton to Galatasary to Crystal Palace.
While there is no clear destination for Randolph just yet, a first choice slot for the goalkeeper - preferably in the Premier League - would be great news for Martin O'Neill ahead of Ireland beginning their World Cup qualifying campaign against Serbia on September 5th.
