West Ham dismissed multiple loan approaches for Armstrong Okoflex in January
West Ham refused loan approaches for Armstrong Okoflex from clubs in three different divisions during the January transfer window, The Athletic reports.
The Irish winger signed from Celtic in the summer but is yet to make his first-team debut for the Hammers, although he has been an unused substitute on multiple occasions this season.
The 19-year-old is being tipped for involvement in the first-team in light of struggles among more senior squad members, and it appears the club see him as an option as they blocked chances of him leaving during the window.
Roshane Thomas writes in The Athletic: “In January, clubs in the Championship, League One and Scottish Premiership enquired about signing Okoflex on loan, but they were told by West Ham that he was not available.
“It is a sign of how highly he is thought of by staff at the club.”
Time has come
It might be time for David Moyes to start turning to more of the young prospects he has at his disposal.
No incoming transfers during January means there has been a lot of stress on the starting XI, with peripheral senior players not making enough impact of late.
Jarrod Bowen went off injured at Anfield yesterday (Saturday 5 March) and although the club has now reported it wasn’t serious, it illustrates the need to have more options behind him.
With Nikola Vlasic underwhelming and Said Benrahma not at his best since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, an opportunity to see the highly-rated youngster in action would be positive.
Although the Hammers were valiant and unlucky in defeat at Liverpool, the performances of late haven’t been sparkling.
It is laudable that Moyes has been getting results out of his men, the poor FA Cup defeat at Southampton aside.
But much has been made of the lack of reinforcements in January, so it would make sense to give some younger players minutes in relief duty.
Thomas reported a month ago in The Athletic that Harrison Ashby and Aji Alese both had loan moves of their own blocked by the club’s failure to secure any signings.
First time football elsewhere would surely benefit all of these players, so if that opportunity was blocked it would make sense to at least use them.
In other West Ham news, Carlton Cole was “screaming” for a substitute appearance from one at Anfield.
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