Evening Standard reporter Jack Rosser believes Alphonse Areola’s arrival at West Ham United has ended the chances of Sam Johnstone securing a move to the London Stadium.
Areola has joined the Hammers on a season-long loan deal, which also has the option to make the move permanent, from French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
The 28-year-old has headed back to the Premier League having impressed with Fulham, where he made 37 appearances, last term.
It comes despite West Ham boss David Moyes also targeting 6 ft 4 West Bromwich Albion shot-stopper Johnstone and reportedly failing with a £10million bid last month.
Moyes, who has led the east Londoners into the Europa League thanks to registering a club record Premier League points tally last month, had made signing a new goalkeeper a priority.
First choice custodian Lukasz Fabianski has entered the final 12 months of his £65,000-per-week contract and Areola will now provide competition.
Rosser believes the Hammers’ pursuit of Johnstone has now come to an end.
He told Football FanCast: “I’d be surprised if they got both [Areola and Johnstone].
“I think they wanted to bring in some competition for Fabianski. Moyes was pleasantly surprised by how well Fabianski did last season but then there were a couple of niggling injuries that he had to put up with.
“They’re looking beyond him now, with competition for Fabianski and then an eventual successor.”