Leeds: Jones drops Ashby update

Leeds United stay desirous about a deal to deliver Harrison Ashby to Elland Highway within the January switch window.

What’s the discuss?

That’s in keeping with Dean Jones, with the switch insider revealing in a latest interview with GIVEMESPORT that, regardless of lacking out on a deadline-day deal for the West Ham United right-back, Victor Orta however stays eager on the thought of creating a transfer for the 20-year-old this winter.

Nonetheless, Jones went on to state that whether or not or not the Whites’ director of soccer will probably be profitable in his potential swoop for the defender will depend upon how David Moyes’ aspect strategy the Scotland U21’s contract scenario – along with his present deal set to run out on the finish of the 2022/23 marketing campaign.

When requested whether or not Leeds retain an curiosity in Ashby, the journalist stated:

“They do nonetheless like him. I believe, from right here, it’s going to depend upon how West Ham resolve to cope with him – whether or not they reassess his contract scenario they usually can persuade him of their very own plans. There’s rather a lot to be sorted on the market over the subsequent few months.”

“Great prospect”

Whereas it’s true that Jesse Marsch presently has a plethora of choices at right-back – with the American supervisor having the ability to name upon the likes of Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen and Cody Drameh within the place – contemplating simply how proficient a prospect the West Ham full-back very a lot appears to be like to be, he would nonetheless seem an incredible signing for Orta to recover from the road.

Certainly, the £270k-rated defender extremely impressed over his 21 Premier League 2 appearances for West Ham’s U23 aspect final season, scoring two objectives and offering his teammates with 5 assists, whereas the Scot additionally caught the attention over his three fixtures within the EFL Trophy, scoring one aim and registering one help within the cup competitors.

These returns noticed the versatile right-back – who also can function from proper midfield and at centre-back – earn numerous call-ups to Moyes’ first-team squad, with the 59-year-old supervisor handing Ashby each his Premier League and Europa League debuts over the course of the 2022/23 marketing campaign.

Moreover, it’s evident that the 20-year-old is extraordinarily extremely considered in east London, with The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas dubbing the defender as “one to look at” on the U Irons podcast again in 2020, earlier than Sam Delaney added of the teenager:

“He’s huge as nicely. He’s like an enormous unit. He’s solely younger, however he’s like an enormous. Often, you’re used to seeing smaller gamers in these wing-back positions, however he seemed huge, robust, he was very fearless, respectable on the ball.”

Nonetheless, it’s not solely at membership degree that Ashby has caught the attention, with Scotland U21 supervisor Scot Gemmill revealing again in August of final yr that the Hammers starlet was conserving Liverpool defender Calvin Ramsay out of his squad:

“In fact Calvin is able to enjoying but it surely’s about what else we’ve acquired. Harrison Ashby isn’t eligible to go and play for the U19s and he’s an incredible prospect who is basically extremely regarded at West Ham.”

Nonetheless, with reports suggesting that Ashby might be set to reject the Hammers’ potential supply of a brand new deal previous to the January switch window, it could seem as if the east London membership might be set to lose the defender on a deal value round £2.5m this winter – or maybe even on a free on the finish of the present marketing campaign.

Both approach, it’s not obscure why Orta stays eager on a transfer for Ashby, as, with the 31-year-old Ayling getting no youthful and the way forward for Drameh nonetheless showing to be considerably up in the air, the teenager would fairly clearly be an incredible signing for the Spaniard so as to add to Marsch’s first-team squad within the winter market.