Leeds United targeting West Ham’s Ashby

Leeds United are reportedly planning a January swoop for West Ham defender Harrison Ashby and it could possibly be a disastrous determination by the Hammers to promote him.

In line with Alan Nixon, each Leeds and Newcastle United had been eager on signing the 20-year-old on deadline day, with solely an damage to Ben Johnson stopping the Hammers from cashing in.

Might Ashby be Rio Ferdinand 2.0?

Leeds are additionally anticipated to return for Ashby within the subsequent switch window however Nixon claims that West Ham try to get him signed onto a brand new deal, though he has beforehand stalled on agreeing to new phrases previously.

Throughout his time at West Ham, Ashby has made simply six first-team appearances however caught the attention within the Premier League 2 final season, contributing two targets and 5 assists in 21 outings.

Journalist Sam Delaney was stuffed with reward for Ashby on the U Irons Podcast in 2020.

He said: “He’s massive as effectively. He’s like an enormous unit. He’s solely younger, however he’s like a large. Normally, you’re used to seeing smaller gamers in these wing-back positions, however he regarded massive, sturdy, he was very fearless, respectable on the ball.”

Ought to Ashby full a transfer to Elland Highway in January, it could possibly be a repeat of the deal that noticed Rio Ferdinand depart the membership in 2000.

The Hammers academy graduate swapped London for Yorkshire in 2000 for a then British record fee of £18m and he was an enormous success with each Leeds and later Manchester United, establishing himself as one of many top defenders of the Premier League period. He made 81 appearances for England and it’s protected to say that West Ham ought to have stored him round for longer.

Whereas it’s unimaginable to foretell whether or not or not Ashby’s profession can be anyplace close to Ferdinand’s, you are worried that promoting the rarely-seen teenager having given him only a few alternatives may show to be an enormous mistake in a couple of years’ time.

Due to this fact, West Ham can be hoping to tie down the Scottish prodigy to a brand new deal, in any other case, they could possibly be going through one other Ferdinand-like howler in January if Leeds come knocking once more.