---
title: "Hammers Set To Miss Out On Championship Full-Back Omar Richards"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2020/10/29/hammers-set-to-miss-out-on-championship-full-back-omar-richards/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2020-10-29T13:30:17Z"
modified: "2020-10-29T13:30:17Z"
---

# Hammers Set To Miss Out On Championship Full-Back Omar Richards

West Ham could be about to miss out on young Reading let-back Omar Richards as the 22-year-old prepares to sign a new deal with his current club, according to journalist [Courtney Friday](https://twitter.com/ChronCourtney).

Richards [played 28 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/omar-richards/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/424881) for the Berkshire club last term and [attracted interest](https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/18819965.crystal-palace-west-ham-interested-reading-fc-full-back/)from the Hammers as well as fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace.

The Kent-born full-back has [continued impressive form](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/omar-richards/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/424881/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) this season and has been a regular in an[unbeaten](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/reading/form-guide) Veljko Paunovic’s starting XI that has conceded just there times and[sits top](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/omar-richards/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/424881/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) of the Championship table.

It’s this form and the murmurings of top-flight interest that have lead to the Royals to be keen to tie him down to a new ‘bumper’ contract in the near future.

Richards has[represented England](https://www.thefa.com/news/2019/oct/10/omar-richards-called-up-to-england-u21-squad-101019) once at the Under-21 level and has a current market value of £1.35m ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/omar-richards/marktwertverlauf/spieler/424881)). Although that figure has [risen sharply](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/omar-richards/marktwertverlauf/spieler/424881) over the last 18 months.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Despite only primitive links the need for an alternative left-back within the Irons ranks is there for all to see, especially with[Aaron Cresswell moving inside](https://www.skysports.com/football/west-ham-vs-man-city/teams/428895) to form part of a central defensive back three at the start of this season.

Cresswell’s new role leaves Arthur Masuaku as the only senior out and out left-back in [David Moyes’ squad](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad).

[Ben Johnson](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/468002) and [Ryan Fredericks](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ryan-fredericks/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/140191) provide the other alternatives, however, both are naturally right-sided defenders.

With the[long-serving](https://www.premierleague.com/players/8897/Aaron-Cresswell/overview) Cresswell now 30 years old and Masuaku [dipping in and out](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/arthur-masuaku/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/181380/plus/0?saison=&verein=379&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) of the team, Moyes may be wise to begin the search for a long-term replacement at left-back.

Although a new contract doesn’t make any future deal impossible to foresee, what it does mean is that should the club wish to pursue the youngster, the price will be at a premium.