Hammers set to poach Birmingham centre back

West Ham are set to lure promising Birmingham City defender Rico Browne to the West Ham Academy.

BirminghamLive say the 17-year-old defender is hopeful of signing for West Ham United after joining the Premier League youth squad side on trial.

Browne, who is highly-rated within the development setup at Birmingham, linked up with West Ham this week and is expected to feature in youth team matches as coaches check him out.

The centre-back also spent a period on trial at Spurs last month but nothing was formally agreed with the teenager.

Browne is considered one of the leading talents in Blues’ under-18 side and featured in the FA Youth Cup last season while he was still at school. He is halfway through a two-year scholarship with the club.

It comes amid uncertainty over the future of the Birmingham academy after it emerged Blues were considering switching to the controversial ‘B’ team model – plans which prompted anger from supporters and parents of those within the current setup.
 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter