West Ham United fans may remember Roberto Jimenez, as much as they try to forget.
The goalkeeper was signed while Manuel Pellegrini was in charge, arriving in East London on a free transfer in May 2019.
He was signed as back-up, a player who was meant to keep a seat warm on the bench as Lukasz Fabianski played in goal.
However, disaster struck in September, as Fabianski picked up an injury in the clash with AFC Bournemouth.
Roberto was substituted on, keeping goal as West Ham earned a point on the south coast in a 2-2 draw.
His only previous appearances had come in the EFL Cup, where he kept a clean sheet against Newport County but shipped four goals in a 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Oxford United.
With Fabianski out, Roberto played in six games in succession for the Hammers, conceding 14 goals, failing to keep a clean sheet, and earning just one more point following the draw with Bournemouth.
He played once more in the league, in a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, before he was dropped to the bench and then loaned out in the January transfer window, joining Spanish club Alaves.
Indeed, his form hasn’t really picked up since; he has made nine appearances for them, keeping two clean sheets, and shipping 19 goals.
However, Sport Witness carries a report from Mundo Deportivo claiming that Alaves want to sign Roberto permanently.
They believe he has shown exemplary professionalism and character, and has shown a “good level” when he has played.
Alaves are said to be confident of agreeing a deal, though they will first have to sell one of their goalkeepers, having stayed in La Liga in 2019/20.
Roberto has a deal that runs until 2021 in east London and he is valued at just £720,000 by Transfermarkt.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This would be manna from heaven for West Ham.
It is amazing that any club was willing to take Roberto on in January given how genuinely disastrous his performances in the Premier League were.
In fact, he hasn’t really bettered his numbers in La Liga but Alaves have clearly seen something in him.
There was the possibility that the Irons would be saddled with the flop this summer, unable to sell him or loan him out.
But there is a club interested and the Hammers should bend over backwards to facilitate his exit from the club.
Roberto may well go down as one of the worst signings the club have ever made.
For West Ham, that’s saying something.