AS player contracts run down, so agents are allowed, under Premier League rules, to speak to overseas clubs when their footballer clients get to the last six months of their deals. Normally a new contract is tied up before that stage – or else in West Ham’s case, an extension is agreed.
Such is most likely going to be the case with youngster George Earthy, whose contract is in its last few months.
Earthy remains one of the very few academy players or graduates who has not signed a new contract in recent weeks : Kante’, Golambeckis, Fearon and Josh Landers have all recently put pen to paper. The club are reasonably sanguine over Earthy’s situation, however, as they hold an option for a further year meaning he’ll be at London Stadium until at least summer 2027.
By which time, hopefully Earthy be commanding a regular first team starting place. Lucas Paquetá’s one match suspension for totting up five yellow cards is a heaven-sent opportunity for the youngster, now returned following ankle and hamstring injuries, to get some game time and start to show Nuno what he’s about.
Unlike Andy Irving. His contract, like Earthy, is ending this summer but it is unlikely West Ham will extend: The Scot has failed to break through, apart from a couple of tepid performances under Nuno – and is now relegated back to the bench.
Andy Irving – out of contract and surely on his way
He will surely be sold in January as West Ham seek to get something back for their investment before he leaves in the summer for a ‘free’.
But have they left it too late? Last August there were reportedly offers from Celtic, Rangers and Wrexham for several million – but now any likely suitor can just sit on their hands until the summer and save themselves the purchase price.
A couple of million might not seem much in the scheme of things – but another symptom of a club without decent forward planning on its fourth manager inside a year and a half. Irving seems one of those signings that never really gelled – a punt or a mistake- probably both. It seems Nuno has made up his mind on the ‘Irn-Bru Iniesta‘ and a strange Hammers’ player chapter will draw to an uneasy conclusion in January.
Hopefully Earthy gets a go between now and January he needs to prove his ability at PL level. We saw glimpses of it in his previous opportunities and hopefully he has grown with his experience at Bristol City.
Paqueta won’t be available for Bournemouth so will be interesting to see if Nuno thinks he is ready, we all would love to see him step up and get the chance COYI !!!
George Earthy can break through this season. At the start of the season he was neck and neck with Freddie Potts but has been held back by injuries. Paquetas suspension is an ideal time to give George Earthy minutes starting at Bournemouth.