Most West Ham fans were generally happy with the deal that saw Darren Randolph leave the club in order to join Middlesbrough in a £5million deal back in 2017.
And consequently many supporters have been surprised to learn that West Ham are considering bringing the former third-choice goalkeeper back next month when the winter transfer window opens for business.The club are thought to be prioritising the capture of a new goalkeeper to replace Roberto, who is set to leave on loan during January - should West Ham be able to find a suitable club for the 33-year-old Spaniard who has almost certainly played his last game for the Hammers.
And Randolph, who made 42 appearances for West Ham mostly as back-up to regular number one Adrian (now at Liverpool) has been cited as a popular choice to fill the void.
According to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg, West Ham are willing to pay up to £3million in order to re-sign Randolph - a figure that Middlesbrough, for whom the Irish international has been a regular number one prior to his recent injury, are said to be reluctant to accept.
The Championship club are reported to be holding out for a fee similar to that which they paid West Ham two years ago - something that United's board are unlikely to agree to, given that he will only be a back-up to Lukasz Fabianski who is expected to return for the club's next outing at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The Hammers are said to be examining other options should the Randolph deal prove too expensive, with Bournemouth’s Asmir Begovic and Stoke City’s Jack Butland - who is likely to be allowed to leave next month in order to reduce City's crippling wage bill - also being considered.
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