Mipo Odubeko is not content with his role at West Ham United and would rather leave the club than sign a new contract in order to obtain first-team football, according to 90min.
The Hammers signed the 18-year-old from Manchester United on a three-year contract in 2019. He now only has 10-months remaining on his deal at the London Stadium, but has not fulfilled their aspirations of developing into a first-team player with just two outings.
David Moyes debuted the Irishman in last term’s FA Cup third-round against Stockport and gifted him minutes against Manchester United. But the U21 international has only played junior-level football since being substituted as a substitute at Old Trafford in February.
Moyes has additionally left Odubeko out of each of West Ham’s Premier League squads this season. He made the bench for 18 top-flight encounters in 2020/21 without featuring as the Irons obtained a Europa League berth.
West Ham would like to extend Odubeko’s contract before sanctioning a late-window loan before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline. However, he would rather push for a permanent move away from east London to secure regular senior action in 2021/22.
Two clubs in Serie A and two Serie B sides are already considering bids for the 5 ft 11 centre-forward. Huddersfield Town would also consider offering Odubeko a chance to play Championship football if he leaves West Ham.
Odubeko has only played first-team football for West Ham so far in his career, but struggled to progress under Moyes. Yet Michail Antonio is the Scot’s only striker after Sebastien Haller joined Ajax in January for £20m.
West Ham won’t want to lose Odubeko this early
While Odubeko has not made the leap into the first-team yet, West Ham will be loath to lose the striker this early in his career. The Republic of Ireland prospect has shown great potential in the junior levels and was on the cusp last season.
The teenager has scored 11 goals in just nine U18 appearances for the Hammers’ academy. He also has 15 goals in 13 U23s fixtures, after netting in each of his last four appearances.
Odubeko’s junior West Ham record may have been even greater were it not for missing the first half of last term through injury. Potentially also delaying his promotion to Moyes’ side, with the Irons boss admitting in January, via football.london, he’s someone he “likes a lot”.
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