Birmingham could pay £400,000 to sign West Ham United left-back Emmanuel Longelo permanently
West Ham defender Emmanuel Longelo could make his loan move to Birmingham City permanent before the 11 pm deadline on Tuesday (31 January), according to Jacob Steinberg.
The 22-year-old left-back joined Birmingham City on loan this summer. He has managed one goal and two assists in 15 league games in the Championship.
Now, Birmingham are looking to make the move permanent by paying £400k, and the deal should go through in the next few hours.
“West Ham’s young left-back Emmanuel Longolo, who’s on loan at Birmingham, could make the deal permanent for £400,000 tonight,” wrote Steinberg on Twitter.
Inevitable
It was inevitable.
The Hammers have a history of letting young players leave the club for free or measly fees, and this one is no exception.
This month, the club lost Craig Dawson to Wolves. But the departure of Harrison Ashby to Newcastle must have hurt the club.
If Ashby grows into a top-quality defender in the Premier League, the Hammers fans will be frustrated that they couldn’t keep their academy player with them.
The case of Longelo is different. He has adapted to life well in the Championship and doesn’t look like someone who can replace Aaron Cresswell in the long run.
He is out of contract at the London Stadium in the summer of 2023, and the club probably has made the right decision by letting him go.
However, the Hammers need a self-introspection here. They are letting too many talents leave the club, which is hampering the fabric of this iconic club.
Instead of losing Longelo for free, at least they’ve got some money back. It’s a good move for all parties involved.