West Ham youngster Jamap Baptiste is being talked up.
West Ham’s current coaching staff are being deliberately quiet about an exciting young talent on their books.
Jamal Baptiste is a regular for the under-23s already at the age of just 15.
Former academy director Terry Westley is a bit more bold. He has been talking up the gifted teenager.
Westley told West Ham fan website Claret & Hugh: “One of the finest young prospects at the club without any doubt is 15 year old Jamal Baptiste who believe me is going to be a monster player in the Issa Diop mould. I see him as exactly that – the new Issa Diop.
“He’s got everything, height, power, pace and is already, at such a young age, making a serious impact on the under 23s. There’s going to be a lot of clubs after him but when he sees players coming through into the first team that counts for a lot.”
It is not the clubs which may want to steal him away from West Ham which is the problem.
Baptiste much shut out the hype and ignore it. The moment he stops working hard, his prospects could suffer.
He need only look at Reece Oxford (above), who at 16 years old previously looked like a locked in bet to become a superstar.
Now he is struggling to get a start for German side Augsburg after leaving the Hammers permanently in the summer.
Football is littered with tales of unfulfilled promise, and Baptiste is no guarantee to make it.
At 15 it is difficult to predict how he will develop physically. His stature is an advantage now, but when he hits 21, will he still be as dominant.
It is exciting for West Ham to have such a promising young talent, but having a positive attitude is the most important part of Baptiste’s future.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
