Josh Ajala and two others to benefit the most if West Ham suffer relegation
West Ham’s relegation would come at a huge cost to the club as a whole, but serve as a benefit to several young prospects.
Ahead of the final 11 games of the season, West Ham sit 18th in the Premier League and are two points behind Nottingham Forest.
Safety is certainly achievable, and the Hammers will be well aware of the potential repercussions if they were to fail to achieve that.
It would come as a huge financial cost for the Irons, but would open a pathway to the first team for several young players who are looking to make their mark at the London Stadium.
Josh Ajala could have big impact for West Ham next season
West Ham have several promising youngsters, but perhaps none with as much potential as Josh Ajala.
The 19-year-old has had another fine campaign for the Under-21s, with 10 goals and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions.
Last season, he had 12 goal involvements from 29 games, showcasing the danger he poses in the final third.
Ajala is an attacking player who thrives in and around the penalty area, as showcased by the fact that he has hit the target with 16 of his 28 shots in Premier League 2 this season.
Relegation to the Championship would force West Ham into utilising players like him, which would immediately accelerate their development.
Mohamadou Kante and Ezra Mayers have already been noticed
While West Ham’s current predicament has afforded very few opportunities to their youngsters, there have been minutes handed to the likes of Ezra Mayers and Mohamadou Kante.
At just 19 years old, Mayers has already made seven first-team appearances for West Ham, the most recent of which was in the Irons’ FA Cup victory against Burton.
Mayers played all 120 minutes that game, completing 83 per cent of his 81 attempted passes, and winning eight defensive duels, showcasing his physicality.
As for Kante, he too has made five appearances for the Hammers this season, and was used as a late substitute in their latest goalless draw with Bournemouth.
First team minutes have been limited for them this season, but they are two players we can expect to see a lot more of next season, regardless of the league.
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