West Ham have obvious reward to give Josh Ajala after what he just did for U21s
Josh Ajala single-handedly dragged West Ham’s U21s side through to the National League Cup final after a stunning performance against Tamworth on Tuesday.
The young Hammers faced off against Tamworth in the National League Cup Semi-final at The Lamb Ground, where the game was level headed into extra time.
Despite being down to 10-men heading into an additional six minutes of play, the Irons didn’t give in, as Ajala scored a stunning stoppage-time brace to seal the 3-1 win.
West Ham‘s U21s will now face off against Boreham Wood in the final of the cup, where Nuno Espirito Santo is likely to watch from the stands.
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David Sullivan must sanction new contract for Josh Ajala
Ajala’s goals were not easy either, with the left-winger showcasing both his running power and ball-striking ability from distance.
The 19-year-old has been on fire in the Premier League 2 at Rush Green this season, so his heroics don’t come as too much of a surprise.
- Ajala is yet to make his senior debut
- He has played for England at U19s and U20s level
The Irons are at risk of losing Ajala, with his contract at the London Stadium set to expire in June. European clubs from Germany and France were said to be interested in the Englishman in the winter window, but he has yet to sign a pre-contract deal with anybody.
There is still a chance that the Hammers can keep the teenager, and it would be in their best interests to hand him a new deal as soon as possible.
David Sullivan needs to sanction a contract that has attractive incentives to stay in E20, because there’s no doubt he could be an instant starter for another club.
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Ajala’s stats from this season demand contract
One game isn’t just enough to go off, but Ajala has been putting in solid performances all season, and it’s no wonder why their is global interest in him.
The Hammers have seen slight success in promoting their youth players under Nuno this season, as Ajala could be next up, if handed a new deal.
| Games | 18 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 1 |
The forward has been showing his capability of playing and performing against senior-level opposition, which suggests he is ready for the next step up in his career.
He’s scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, and although he may not break into Nuno’s side straight away, a loan move to League One or League Two could be the call to make.
But first, get him tied down to new terms at West Ham.
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