Leeds United still want Harrison Ashby and are prepared to make a new move for the West Ham United talent in January.
The focus for Leeds late in the window was firmly on signing new attacking talent for Jesse Marsch.
Daniel James’ loan move to Fulham and a shoulder injury to Rodrigo meant that Leeds simply had to bring in attacking reinforcements.
In the end, a deal for Italian teenager Wilfried Gnonto was struck – but Victor Orta was also hoping to sign a right back before the deadline too.
That may have surprised many given that another right back had arrived earlier in the summer in Rasmus Kristensen, but West Ham talent Ashby was fancied.
Leeds United still want Harrison Ashby
The Sun’s Alan Nixon reported on deadline day that Leeds had made contact about a potential deal to sign Ashby.
Leeds weren’t alone in the race for Ashby though as Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie claimed that Newcastle United were in talks with West Ham over signing Ashby.
West Ham ultimately stood in their way though with Downie reporting later on deadline day that the Hammers didn’t want to lose Ashby.
The Sun now claim that West Ham want to try and sort out a new contract for Ashby in order to fend off future interest.
Yet it’s added that Leeds are expected to return with a new move for Ashby in January with Orta and co seemingly still interested.
Newcastle aren’t quite as likely to follow up their interest in 2023, so now it’s over to Ashby to consider what he wants, and what is best for his development.
The Scottish Under-21 international has only played once in the Premier League for West Ham and seems to be behind both Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson in the pecking order.
Leeds may fancy him but Ashby has seen former West Ham teammate Sonny Perkins make the move to Elland Road and head into the Under-21’s.
Kristensen is only 25 so he isn’t exactly going anywhere any time soon, meaning Ashby would run the risk of being second-choice at Elland Road.
It would be a similar story at Newcastle too given Kieran Trippier’s importance, so Ashby faces some big decisions over the coming months.
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