“Could be on the way…”: West Ham summer signing ready to leave Hammers in January after tough start to life at London Stadium

West Ham Struggle Against Liverpool as Areola Shines, Hermansen’s Future in Doubt

West Ham suffered a 2–0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend, with goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo ending Nuno Espírito Santo’s four-game unbeaten league run.

The scoreline could have been far worse if not for Alphonse Areola, who made a string of impressive saves to keep West Ham’s fragile goal difference from taking an even bigger hit.

However, the club’s summer signing, Mads Hermansen, brought in to challenge Areola for the starting spot, may already be facing the exit door.

Hermansen Could Be on the Way Out

The last major decision made by former manager Graham Potter was to replace Areola with Hermansen as West Ham’s first-choice goalkeeper. Nuno Espírito Santo has since reversed that decision — and reinforced it.

Hermansen, signed from relegated Leicester City for close to £20 million, has struggled since arriving in east London.

He conceded 11 of the 27 goals West Ham shipped early in the season, and after just four Premier League appearances, he was replaced by Areola, who has retained the starting role ever since.

Although Areola lost four of his first five games back, his form has improved dramatically, making him one of West Ham’s few reliable performers in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Hermansen remains on the bench, unable to reclaim his place for club or country, where he also sits behind Kasper Schmeichel.

Football pundit Clinton Morrison highlighted the situation during BBC 5 Live’s coverage of the Liverpool defeat, noting, according to GIVEMESPORT:

“Alphonse Areola has made the jersey his own. West Ham brought in Mads Hermansen and paid a lot of money, and now it looks like he could be on the way as he’s not playing any football.”

Morrison added: “Areola deserves to be number one — big saves last week to earn them a draw and he’s made two crucial saves already.”

With January approaching and Hermansen’s path blocked, a winter departure now seems increasingly likely. For a goalkeeper who arrived with high expectations and a significant transfer fee, it would mark a swift and disappointing end to his time at the London Stadium.