Newcastle United in talks to sign West Ham talent Harrison Ashby for Eddie Howe first-team – Keith Downie
Newcastle United are in talks over a deadline day move for West Ham right-back Harrison Ashby, according to Sky Sports News journalist Keith Downie.
Writing via his personal Twitter account on Thursday afternoon (1 September), Downie claimed that Eddie Howe is searching for right-back cover due to a serious injury to Emil Krafth.
It is understood that Ashby has one year left on his contract at the London Stadium and the “highly-rated” 20-year-old would be for Howe’s first team at St James’ Park should the deal go through.
All the best
West Ham should not be letting Ashby leave but if they were serious about giving the Scotland Under-21 international a future at the London Stadium they would not have left him get to the final year of his contract.
Ashby has played a few times for West Ham’s first-team in recent years.
He played all 90 minutes of the 3-1 home win against Viborg in the Europa Conference League qualifiers and was on he bench for the first three Premier League games of this season.
He’s made six senior appearances for the Irons in total but doesn’t seem to be in the picture when David Moyes has a full complement of right-backs available to him.
Howe probably sees him as someone who’ll play a lot more for Newcastle though and we can see why the Scottish youngster would probably want a move up to the North-East too.
If he goes, we’ll wish him all the best but West Ham have messed up here.
We cannot blame them with Sonny Perkins going but with Ashby, he should have been better managed to ensure he wasn’t up for grabs at this point.
He’s a talented youngster and he’ll be a big gain for someone like Newcastle.