Newcastle United set to offer £2.5m for West Ham United starlet Harrison Ashby
Newcastle United are set to test West Ham United with a £2.5m offer for defender Harrison Ashby, according to the Daily Mail.
The Scotland Under-21 international has been promoted into the first-team picture this season by David Moyes and featured in both of the club’s UEFA Europa Conference League victories over Viborg this season.
But his performances have caught the attention of Magpies boss Eddie Howe who is looking to bolster his defence ahead of Thursday’s deadline and an offer is set to be made this week.
Ashby is highly rated at the London Stadium, and it’s unclear if West Ham would be willing to do a deal or if Newcastle are willing to offer more at this moment.
It was reported earlier this summer that the club could be open to a loan deal for the young full-back.
Talent
West Ham’s academy is one of the very best in the country and Ashby is the latest in a long line of talent to come through and break into the first team.
Ashby’s performances at both right-back and left-back have been impressive and he has filled in plenty of times to prove that he is ready to perform at a Premier League level.
Newcastle already have Kieran Trippier at right-back as their first choice, but 20-year-old Ashby would likely go in as a back-up option and have more chances of first-team football there considering he is behind Vladimir Coufal, Ben Johnson, Aaron Cresswell and new signing Emerson Palmieri currently in the pecking order at West Ham.
That could make it an enticing approach for him to continue, while the Hammers are likely to try and hold out for more, although the player has entered the final 12 months of his deal.
He’s obviously part of Moyes’ plans going forward and with Cresswell and Coufal both over 30 he may not have to wait too long to get a chance, but there’s no guarantees and it’s certainly one to keep an eye on going forward.