Dean White

Thu 2 June 2022 13:09, UK

Aston Villa and Leeds United are in the hunt to sign West Ham youngster Sonny Perkins on a permanent basis, according to ExWHUemployee.

Writing via his Patreon account on 2 June, the reliable Irons insider reported that Perkins, 18, is set to be out of contract at the end of this month and he’s yet to agree fresh terms at the London Stadium.

It is understood that Perkins is asking for a “large wage” and the impasse has led to interest from Villa Park and Elland Road.

ExWHUemployee adds: “If the player does leave, due to his age, West Ham will be entitled to compensation but it would be disappointing to lose a highly-rated talent.”

Get him gone

It’s a shame that it’s come to this.

Perkins is a very highly-rated young player at the East London club so losing him is a bit of a blow to the club’s youth set-up.

Perkins scored 10 goals in 20 Premier League 2 appearances in the 2021/22 season, as well as a further four goals in four appearances in the Under-18s Premier League.

The England Under-18 international also made three senior appearances for the Irons.

He made his debut in the 2-0 win away at Rapid Vienna in the Europa League before starting the group stage defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the centre-forward position.

David Moyes also handed Perkins his Premier League debut when West Ham were beaten by Leeds at the London Stadium back in January.

However, regardless of his talent, for him to ask for big wages when he’s a young player is wrong.

We don’t want the club to be in a position where they’re baulking in contract negotiations with someone who’s barely 18-years-old.

If he’s not ready to commit to West Ham then we’re better off pocketing what compensation we can and letting him go to disrupt other clubs.

In other West Ham news, an offer has been made to make a behind-the-scenes appointment at the club.

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