Xavi Valero says the signings of Roberto and David Martin will give West Ham United’s young goalkeepers the opportunity to develop their skills away from the daily pressures of training and travelling with the first-team squad.
Roberto and Martin will provide experienced cover for Lukasz Fabianski after agreeing to join the Irons from Espanyol and Millwall respectively at the start of July.
And the Hammers’ goalkeeper coach believes the likes of Nathan Trott – who Valero revealed is set to spend the season on loan with an EFL club – Joseph Anang, Daniel Jinadu and recent signing Krisztian Hegyi will have a better chance of reaching their potential if they are given time and space to improve.
My idea is that we need three first-team goalkeepers ready to perform, which in turn enables the young goalkeepers to concentrate on their development
Xavi Valero
“The situation in the first team affects the young goalkeepers and that is why it was important that we have three experienced goalkeepers ready and able to perform in the Premier League in the squad,” he explained.
“With Lukasz being joined by Roberto and David, this will enable us to give Nathan the opportunity to go out on loan and get some valuable experience of playing first-team football, which we are happy about.
“Nathan is one of the growing young talents in England and it is important we give him the platform to continue improving and developing his skills.
“If Nathan goes out on loan, this will give Joseph Anang to play regularly for the Under-23s, while we also have some promising goalkeepers in the younger age-groups such as Daniel Jinadu and Krisztian Hegyi, who is only 16 and we consider to be one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe at the moment.
“My idea is that we need three first-team goalkeepers ready to perform, which in turn enables the young goalkeepers to concentrate on their development without the pressure of training, travelling and playing in lots and lots of matches, because it is not beneficial for young goalkeepers to have too busy a schedule.
“In my mind, the Club has some very good goalkeepers at all levels, with some great prospects for the future, so we are all happy with this situation.”