PSG star drops hint over permanent Premier League move

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has suggested that he would like to turn his loan move to Fulham into a permanent deal.

Having struggled to make an impression with PSG, where he came through the academy system, he spent last season on loan as Real Madrid’s back-up keeper. Now the 27-year-old Areola finds himself at the newly promoted side in a bid to earn more regular game time.

He has done just that at Fulham, establishing himself as their regular goalkeeper and turning out on 24 occasions in the Premier League for the Cottagers, conceding only 29 goals and keeping seven clean sheets in the process.

Areola admits his future will be resolved after Fulham’s future has been decided, but he seems open to remaining with the club.

Will Fulham sign Areola?

Asked about the prospect of staying with the club, Areola told Fulham Fix: “I don’t know, I don’t know. My main focus is to help this team. After that it depends on lots of things. It depends on PSG, the manager. We have to focus on staying in the Premier League and then we will have talks.

“I decided to come here because I really wanted to play this season because I didn’t play a lot last year. Real Madrid was a great experience but I wanted to play.

“My family wanted to come, we’re happy and if they’re happy that is the most important thing for me and it helps me.”

Although capped three times by France, he has spent much of his career as a second-string goalkeeper at club level, often finding himself in a fight for the No.1 spot.

Areola played 107 times for PSG, including 17 in the Champions League, but has not played more than 40 fixtures for his other five clubs.