West Ham United elimate doubts after angering fans with summer deal
Dan Bardell believes Lewis Orford will have assurances of first-team football at West Ham after being mooted in a swap deal for Jhon Duran.
The Hammers announced via their official website on 4 September that the 18-year-old had signed a new deal at the London Stadium, lasting until 2029.
This comes less than two months after the midfielder was included in a swap deal offer to Aston Villa to sign Duran [Daily Mail, 25 July].
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell thinks the academy star must have a route to the first team planned after a lack of opportunity under David Moyes.
Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, Bardell said: “I think when he was part of that Jhon Duran deal with Aston Villa, the West Ham fans were annoyed by that.
“He’s a player they’ve been excited about potentially making his way to the first team so I guess a new contract eliminates any doubts over his future.
“There was criticism in the last regime under Moyes that not many young players came through. If Orford has signed a new deal there’s got to have been some discussions about his pathway to the first team.
“I think the fact he’s signed a new contract shows that there is a plan for him, fans will just have to wait and see what that is.“
Lewis Orford has first-team assurances at West Ham
Julen Lopetegui has made plenty of additions to his squad over the summer which may leave young players without a role in the squad.
With that being said, Orford probably wouldn’t have committed his long-term future to East London without assurances.
That could be a loan move to the EFL in January with a view to joining up with the first team for preseason at the end of the campaign.
Orford is clearly highly rated by the club with former captain Mark Noble speaking highly of him.
If the ex-skipper is speaking the midfielder up, there must be something special there and the club have to nurture him.
In other Aston Villa news, a buy clause looks set to be triggered soon amid Fabrizio Romano update.
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