What plan West Ham have in store for Josh Landers as exit update drops

West Ham United appear set to make a decision on Josh Landers' immediate future.

The 19-year-old striker signed for West Ham in late January last year, having previously been with Hibernian.

A Scotland youth international, he remains a highly-rated prospect both regarding his potential at club level, and on the international stage.

Landers made three competitive first-team appearances for Hibernian but failed to score in any of them, having been with the Edinburgh-based side since he was 10-years old.

With West Ham suffering relegation to the Championship, there perhaps is a greater chance for some of their young talent to break into Nuno Espirito Santo's thinking this coming campaign.

However, it appears as though the Hammers have a different strategy in mind for the teenage striker.

What do West Ham want to do with Josh Landers this summer?

West Ham Zone has discussed Landers' future with West Ham amid his disappointing Boreham Wood loan spell, where he scored just one goal in nine appearances.

However, having inked a long-term contract extension at the London Stadium back in October last year, the Hammers aren't ready to give up on him just yet.

According to an X post from Scotland-based Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph on Tuesday evening, St Mirren and Livingston are at the front of the queue to sign Landers this summer.

Joseph claims that a host of Scottish sides are sweet on him, and that West Ham would like to send him out on loan in order to gain more senior experience.

So, how did Landers get on for West Ham's Under-21s last season, and did it show clear signs of the star potential many feel he's got?

Why Landers was one of Premier League 2's best in 2025-26

Despite him still waiting on his first-team debut at West Ham, Landers didn't do his chances any harm in that regard in the Irons' academy last term.

He played 17 times for the Hammers in Premier League 2, scoring seven goals and chipping in with one assist.

As per FotMob, his 3.07 aerial duels won per 90 minutes ranked him in the top four percentile of all strikers in that competition in 2025-26.

Meanwhile, he also averaged 0.61 goals per game, put 13 of his 22 shots on target, created 10 chances and took 45 touches in the opposition box.

So, should West Ham source him a shrewd loan move this summer, he could well return to the London Stadium this time next year ready to show he can compete with the likes of Taty Castellanos in pre-season.