West Ham United’s hierarchy face transfer decisions over five of their young prospects who have expiring contracts at the London Stadium.
The Hammers’ academy has been having a good season, with the under-18s just days away from clinching the Under-18s Premier League South table and in the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup next month.
However, the younger end of the academy shining, it has led to older members leaving as West Ham look to capitalise on a talented crop of teenagers. Pierre Ekwah, Aji Alese, Harrison Ashby, Manny Longelo and Will Greenidge have all departed the club permanently this season.
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In the summer, they are set to face decisions over five more of their younger players, all of which have played for the first-team.
Republic of Ireland youth international winger Armstrong Okoflex spent the first half of the season on loan at Swansea City in the Championship and is on the list. Since his loan was cut short midway through the season, he has hardly featured for the club’s under-21s. However, West Ham do have a one-year option on his deal.
Also struggling for minutes this season is centre-back Jamal Baptiste who was previously rated highly at the club. However, he went five months without playing for the academy and last month, first-team manager David Moyes has suggested the defender has not helped himself, having not played since an outing against Monaco in the Premier League International Cup.
Fellow defender Levi Laing is also due to see his deal run out this summer, but having made his senior debut a week ago in the Europa Conference League, his chances of a new deal could well be boosted..
Versatile playmaker Kamarai Swyer has been a regular for the Hammers’ under-21s this season and also made his senior debut against Romanian side FCSB, a game which midfielder Keenan Appiah-Forson also played in. Both are on the five-man list of players that West Ham must make decisions over.
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