Sonny Perkins heads a clutch of West Ham United prospects who should leave the London Stadium on loan during the January transfer window to impress boss David Moyes in 2022.
The Europa League has afforded Moyes a chance to bed some of the Irons’ young stars into his first-team. But with the Hammers progressing through to the last 16, the Scottish coach will want to rely on his experienced pros leading the east London outfit’s bid for silverware.
Perkins is one who benefitted from West Ham securing a place in the knockout phase early. Moyes gave the 17-year-old his senior bow at Rapid Vienna in November, making him their second-youngest player to feature in a major European tournament after Bobby Barnes.
Perkins ready for regular first-team action away from West Ham
Perkins produced a solid account of himself at Rapid Vienna and came close to scoring on his West Ham debut. The youngster met Vladimir Coufal’s cross with a powerful header moments after his introduction, following a raft of impressive Under-23s performances.
Dmitri Halajko only promoted Perkins into the Hammers’ U23s this term, yet he settled into Premier League 2 action immediately. The teenager, who can play on the wing and through the centre, has also shown his goal threat in England’s U18s since debuting in September.
Perkins surely showed with how quickly he rose from West Ham’s U18s, their U23s and into Moyes’ first-team that he is ready for a loan transfer and regular first-team football.
Ashby needs his next step away from the London Stadium
Another of Halajko’s U23s who needs to make the next step of his career away from the London Stadium, Harrison Ashby has shone for West Ham at junior level so far this term.
The defender has offered the Irons a dynamic presence and creative threat from full-back in the PL2. But no matter how well the Scotland U20 right-back plays in claret-and-blue, his route forward is blocked.
Coufal, Ryan Fredericks and Ben Johnson lock out Moyes’ West Ham first-team spots for minutes at right-back. So, Ashby will need to leave on loan for senior football next year.
Ogbonna injury not enough for Baptiste to avoid needing January loan transfer
Moyes suffered a big blow in November when star centre-half Angelo Ogbonna sustained a season-ending cruciate ligament injury. The West Ham boss is now likely to target another option in January, with 90min citing Manchester City’s Nathan Ake as a possible target.
Moyes has options in the east Londoners’ academy who could fill Ogbonna’s void, but will prefer to have greater experience. Thus, Jamal Baptiste should look to secure a loan move.
Baptiste, like Perkins and Ashby, has enjoyed a strong campaign at youth level in Halajko’s U23s side. The 18-year-old was particularly impressive through October, leading to his nomination for the PL2 Player of the Month award.
Yet his form, or Ogbonna’s injury, is unlikely to see Moyes promote Baptiste to a key first-team role. So, the often-overlooked defender should leave on loan for senior minutes, too.
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