West Ham keen to strike contract deal with academy graduate

West Ham United are reportedly keen to tie up a new contract deal for Harrison Ashby.

The defender was linked with a departure in the last transfer window but ended up staying beyond the deadline.

Ashby, 20, has been on the books of the Hammers since 2010 having previously been with Chelsea.

As per a report by The Sun, David Moyes’ side want to extend his contract amid interest from Newcastle United and Leeds United, with the latter ‘expected’ to return for him in January.

West Ham academy graduate

Ashby has risen up through the academy at West Ham having joined at the age of nine and has been a regular for them at various youth levels.

The full-back penned his first professional deal back in 2020 and made his first-team debut in September of the same year in a Carabao Cup clash against Charlton Athletic.

He has since made a total of six senior appearances but his future at the London Stadium has become uncertain over recent times.

The Milton Keynes-born man will no doubt be hoping for more game time and so far he hasn’t been getting that.

Nevertheless, West Ham obviously see him as one for the future or otherwise they wouldn’t be interested in keeping him.

Other news

In other news, speaking after the loss to Chelsea this weekend, defender Vladimir Coufal told the official club website:

“It is very difficult to describe the feelings [in the dressing room] right now. We feel we could have taken some points from Stamford Bridge - and that we had enough power to get them.

“I am disappointed because we could kill the game maybe, but we conceded a goal instead. I don’t think [we switched off]. There was a misunderstanding maybe for the first goal and the second goal there was a cross and we did not cover the player. It is difficult.”