Here is your West Ham morning digest for Wednesday, May 27.
Ngakia contract rejection opens door for another West Ham youngster
The news that Jeremy Ngakia has rejected West Ham’s latest offer could mean an opportunity in the near future for right back Ben Johnson.
Ngakia is highly rated at the club but clearly felt he was worthy of a pay rise sooner. The Hammers offered the 19-year-old a contract worth £5,000 per week, but he has turned it down.
It now looks almost certain that he will leave, and his departure may open the door for Johnson, another of the club’s most promising young players.
The 20-year-old impressed on his Premier League debut against Manchester City last season, and has caught the eye with the under-23s.
Johnson is expected to compete with Pablo Zabaleta for a place in the first team when the season resumes.
Two surprise contenders for the vacant number nine shirt at West Ham
David Moyes is faced with finding someone to fill the vacant No.9 shirt ahead of next season.
The Hammers have struggled for goals this season, with last summer’s high profile signing Sebastien Haller yet to hit top form.
And West Ham, throughout this season, have had no one to wear the No.9 shirt.
Moyes may consider giving it to one of Xande Silva and Jordan Hugill, depending on the division the Hammers find themselves in.
Silva, a prolific scorer at youth level, has impressed with the under-23s and has been around the first team for some time now.
Injuries have held him back, but he remains a prospect capable of making a real impact at the club.
Hugill, meanwhile, has spent the season on loan at QPR, but his return to West Ham will reunite him with the manager who signed him for £10m in January 2018.
He is another option for Moyes, with money expected to be tight in the coming months.
Future of Hammers trio in doubt ahead of next season
West Ham trio Jack Wilshere, Ryan Fredericks and Andriy Yarmolenko could be fighting for their futures at the club in the coming months.
All three players have struggled with injuries of late and may be victims of David Moyes’ intention to reduce the average age of his squad.
Wilshere will enter the final year of his £100,000 a week contract in the summer, which will leave West Ham with a decision to make.
The former Arsenal midfielder has been unable to overcome his injury problems, and the same is true of Yarmolenko, who is now 30 and has been out for most of this season with a serious achilles injury.
Fredericks, meanwhile, could have a little more time to prove himself, with 35-year-old Pablo Zabeleta his only competition at right back (though Ben Johnson may make the step up to the first team soon).
Like Wilshere and Yarmolenko, though, Fredericks will hope to prove himself to Moyes when the season resumes.
