CandH exclusive by Sean Whetstone
West Ham manager David Moyes gave Jeremy Ngakia thirty minutes game time on Saturday against Crystal Palace in case he needed for Premier League games against Wolves or Spurs.
Ngakia remains contracted as a West Ham player until 30th June and Moyes is concerned that Ryan Fredericks and Ben Johnson have only just returned from long term injuries and unable to see out 90 minutes.
We could yet see Ngakia start or come on as a substitute against Wolves next Saturday and or Spurs before the end of the month depending on Fredericks and Johnson’s fitness levels.
Pablo Zabaleta was missing from the London Stadium on Saturday and his fitness level is unknown with a decision yet to be taken to extend his contract beyond the end of June.
A senior club insider admitted the club hasn’t completely given up on Ngakia having a late change of heart and they will try every day until the bitter end.
However, we have been told that his representatives refuse to name a price that would allow him to stay a Hammer and all offers of negotiation have so far been met by silence.
We would have to in desperate straights to play Ngakia. If, after all this time off our players aren’t in play form, we are doomed. Ngakia should be in the stands where we can be sure of the quality he will bring.
Ngakia is our best right back, unless Johnson is fit and ready…We’re still paying him a good wage this month, unless he’s been furloughed. Let him earn it!!
He doesn’t want to stay no matter how much we offer him. If he did then he or his agent would name their price