West Ham United have been linked with AS Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen, it has been reported.
The Hammers already have three goalkeepers at the club — Roberto and David Martin being latest arrivals on free transfers — but are eyeing a move for the Swedish International, as per Corriere della Sera’s Rome edition, cited by the Sport Witness.
AS Roma signed Pau Lopez from Real Betis, which could see Olsen fall down the pecking order under manager Paulo Fonseca.
The Sweden number one made 35 appearances conceding a total of 58 goals across all competitions last term.
Olsen joined the club after his impressive outings for his former club as well as Sweden. He helped the Swedes to the 2018 World Cup knockout stages with is impressive displays.
Is Olsen the right option for West Ham United?
Olsen arrived at Stadio Olimpico last summer from Copenhagen in a deal worth €9m. The 29-year-old is a good passer of the ball, and is comfortable with the ball at his feet.
The Swede averaged a pass success rate of 66.8% with 7.6 long balls and 26.9 passes per game across all competitions last season.
The Roma goalkeeper would be a decent fit at the London Stadium, as Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini’s style of play requires a ball-playing goalkeeper to build up the play from the back.
The Swede, however, sometimes flatters to deceive while catching crosses, which is a key trait for any ‘keeper to succeed in the Premier League, something he will have to work on. Olsen’s lack of concentration is another reason he only recorded a mere 7 cleans sheets across the entire 2018/19 season; he is prone to errors.
The Roma man does have the ability to come off his line pretty swiftly, and that could help the team when they play a high defensive line against certain teams.
Although goalkeepers tend to peak late in their careers, having a 34-year old in Fabianski and two 33-year olds who aren’t expected to challenge him aren’t ideal for a club who want to challenge the top six next season.
That’s where Olsen could be a good addition to the club as he is experienced, and could push Fabianski if not replace him. The Pole had an extremely good debut season last time, but needs to be pushed to ensure his levels don’t drop next season.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt, Whoscored
