By Sam Stone

30th Aug, 2022 | 9:10pm

ExWHUemployee: West Ham United explore permanent exit for Jamal Baptiste

West Ham United are exploring a potential permanent exit for 18-year-old defender Jamal Baptiste according to ExWHUemployee.

Baptiste has been highly rated as a youngster but has seen his career at the London Stadium stall in recent years and it’s understood that a move could be in the best interests of both parties.

Ex wrote on his Patreon page on Tuesday 30 August, that there is interest from a couple of Championship clubs and that both loan and permanent deals are being explored for the young defender.

Good call

With West Ham really pushing the limits in terms of expenditure this summer on the transfer front, it does make sense for some of the club’s younger players to leave for their own benefit.

Baptiste has featured on West Ham’s bench this season and was a regular substitute for Moyes’ side in the 2021/22 campaign.

However, at 18, it’s crucial that he is playing regular first-team football, rather than warming the bench for the Hammers and purely featuring in under-23s.

After the big-money arrival of Lucas Paqueta, Moyes may need to reduce the number of players that he currently has in his squad after a busy summer window.

It will be a shame to see a younger prospect depart The London Stadium, with Sonny Perkins another hot talent who wasn’t given a proper chance to make an impact on first-team proceedings at the club.

Perkins left the club for free and opted to join Leeds United this summer on a permanent deal.

The club have handled Armstrong Oko-Flex’s situation much better, with the young winger set to complete a loan move to Swansea City, as reported by The BBC on Tuesday 30 August.

A loan move for Baptiste could potentially be a better option, so the club don’t lose out on a player who could make an impact at the London Stadium in the near future.