West Ham United have submitted a fresh £7million bid for Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge amid growing doubts regarding their pursuit of Darren Randolph, according to Football Insider.
The Hammers had looked set to make Randolph their first signing of the window after agreeing a fee with Middlesbrough, but it is believed that they are waiting on the results of the goalkeeper's latest medical before deciding whether to pursue the deal.
The Premier League side have now reportedly identified Etheridge as another possible solution to their goalkeeping conundrum, with the 29-year-old having been left out of the Cardiff starting line-up for the South Wales derby over the weekend.
Bluebirds boss Neil Harris claimed he dropped Etheridge as a result of speculation regarding his future at the club, and it is now believed West Ham have tabled a fresh offer for the Philippines international worth £6million plus £1million in add-ons.
The London club are desperate for another goalkeeper after Lukasz Fabianski suffered another injury against Sheffield United on Friday night, with Hammers boss David Moyes chasing an alternative option to Roberto and David Martin.
Etheridge appears to have been high on the list of West Ham's candidates, with the 29-year-old made 16 appearances for Cardiff this term after re-establishing himself in the starting line-up following an injury early on in the campaign.
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The Verdict
West Ham are clearly in need of another goalkeeping option after Fabianski's latest injury blow, and it would represent a real coup if they could land Etheridge given he is an international goalkeeper who is proven in the Premier League.
The 29-year-old would be a great player to have alongside Fabianski in the club's goalkeeping department, and the club are definitely making the right move in lining up this deal in the event of them pulling out of the Randolph transfer.
This would also be a decent move for Cardiff given they have two other goalkeeping options in Alex Smithies and Joe Day, while the fact Harris named Smithies in the starting line-up over the weekend suggests he is preparing for Etheridge's exit.