Darren Randolph is keen to build on his Euro 2016 showings with a first-choice role in the Premier League.
The Ireland goalkeeper played 15 games for West Ham last season but only six of those outings were in the Premier League.
Randolph was deputy to Adrian but was entrusted for cup games and did not let the Hammers down. His elevation to Ireland’s No.1, following an injury to Shay Given, saw him perform heroics and never look back.
He made quality saves in all of Ireland’s group games at Euro 2016 and was excellent in the tight, 2-1 loss to France.
Such was the level of Randolph’s performances that his name became linked with a transfer away from West Ham. Such talk was fuelled by this quote from a Hammers source, in The Sun:
‘It would come as no surprise were enquiries 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.”
That valuation was said to be £3m, a bargain for a Premier League side in need of a solid stopper.
One of the clubs linked with making a move for Randolph – and definitely in need of a goalkeeper – was Everton. Tim Howard moved on, to Colorado Rapids, and Joel Robles needed serious competition for 2016/17. Ronald Koeman was promised significant funds by Everton’s new owners.
Randolph would certainly have fit in well in The Toffees’ Irish contingent – Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Aiden McGeady and Darron Gibson – but it is not happening now.
Everton have signed Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from Fulham. The 33-year-old will now compete with Robles for a starting role and ends Koeman’s search:
BREAKING: We have signed goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from @Fulhamfc on a three-year contract. #WelcomeMaarten pic.twitter.com/CLXuHhH51l
— Everton (@Everton) July 1, 2016
Stekelenburg’s quote, upon his unveiling, about how eager Koeman was to get him on-board means Randolph will have to look elsewhere for a move. The goalkeeper said:
“Koeman has come to Everton and he called me a few days after asking if I was willing to follow him. It wasn’t difficult to make that choice.”
The pair have worked together at Ajax and Southampton and Koeman trusts him implicitly.
Randolph has been mentioned, in the English press, as a solid option for Watford and Bournemouth so may yet secure a move away, unless he wants to stay and fight at West Ham.
