Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Harrison Ashby to Elland Road over the final hours of the summer transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a recent post on his Patreon that Victor Orta is now plotting a late swoop for the West Ham United right-back – who Newcastle are also reported to be chasing in a £2.5m deal.
Regarding the Whites’ interest in the 20-year-old, Nixon said: “Leeds United are making a surprise late bid for West Ham right back Harrison Ashby. The Elland Road club have asked about promising Ashby who would have a better chance of a game for them. Ashby is willing to move but Hammers have an injury or two at the back and he is also needed for their homegrown quotas.”
Another Orta steal
Considering just how exciting a prospect Ashby evidently is, should Orta manage to bring the right-back to Elland Road for anywhere near the reported £2.5m fee, it would undoubtedly represent another steal by the Whites’ director of football.
Indeed, the Spaniard is building an impressive reputation for signing some of the most exciting talents in English football at extremely reasonable prices, with the likes of Joe Gelhardt costing the club just £1.1m, Sam Greenwood setting Leeds back a mere £1.5m, Lewis Bate costing around £1.5m and Sonny Perkins arriving on a free.
And, with Ashby very much appearing to be a player who boasts an incredible amount of potential, should Orta manage to add the Scotland U21 international to his ever-growing list of young recruits for a figure in the region of £2.5m, the defender could well prove to be one of the Spaniard’s best yet.
Indeed, the £270k-rated talent highly impressed for the Hammers’ U21 side last season, scoring two goals and providing five assists over his 21 Premier League two fixtures, as well as bagging one goal and registering one assist over three outings in the EFL Trophy.
Furthermore, those in the know at West Ham clearly believe the right-back is destined for great things further down the line, with podcaster Sam Delaney previously stating of the defender: “He’s big as well. He’s like a big unit. He’s only young, but he’s like a giant. Usually, you’re used to seeing smaller players in those wing-back positions, but he looked big, strong, he was very fearless, decent on the ball.”
As such, with Ashby looking to be an extremely exciting young player, signing the talent for a figure of just £2.5m would indeed appear something of a steal for the Whites – evidence that Orta is once again working his magic in the window as it rapidly draws to a close.
