Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that West Ham prospect Harrison Ashby is still being looked at by Leeds United.
As reported by The Sun, the Hammers refused to sanction the 20-year-old’s departure with moves to both Newcastle United and Leeds touted.
The same source suggests that the east London club will now look to secure the Scotland U21 international’s future by agreeing to a new contract that expires at the end of the season after the Irons exercised their one-year extension clause.
However, journalist Alan Nixon has said that Leeds will return for the Ashby in the winter window while Newcastle’s interest wears thin.
Claret and Hugh have reported that the right-back could well reject fresh terms at the London Stadium with a view to a move elsewhere and Jones understands that the Whites remain keen.
He told GIVEMESPORT: “They do still like him. I think, from here, it’s going to depend on how West Ham decide to deal with him.
“Whether they reassess his contract situation and they can convince him of their own plans, there’s a lot to be sorted out there over the next few months.”
It certainly seems like West Ham will have a job on their hands trying to keep hold of the three-cap Scotland U21 international given Leeds’ apparent persistence.
Ashby has played six times for the first team at Stratford, including 90 minutes in the home leg of the Europan Conference League qualifiers.
While Vladimir Coufal is the clear first choice at right-back for David Moyes, Ashby has been handed a chance to stake his claim given Ben Johnson’s recent injury setback.
He could be just simply putting himself in the shop window, however, as for now, it seems that contract talks are at an impasse and the situation needs to be resolved, otherwise the Irons risk losing a burgeoning talent for nothing.
