West Ham have ruled out any chance of selling George Earthy to Bristol City in the summer.
The Hammers youngster has had a mixed spell on loan at Ashton Gate this season, with spells out of the team through injury and being played out of position.
But recently, Earthy has featured more prominently for City, picking up back-to-back Man of the Match awards as the Robins have moved into the Championship playoff places.
Former West Ham coach Liam Manning is now manager of Bristol City, and yesterday spoke of his desire to sign Earthy on a permanent deal next season. Manning said of Earthy: “George has been outstanding for us. It speaks volumes about his character, his attitude, and how he is as a person.”
However, his dreams have been dealt a blow, with a West Ham insider telling Claret & Hugh, “No chance.”
A top source at the London Stadium also revealed to C&H late last night that there have been no enquiries from City adding, “I doubt they could afford him anyway”.
Earthy is wanted back for pre-season training, where he can be assessed by Irons manager Graham Potter, who receives regular feedback on Hammers loanees.
Just as well, too. With a mass exodus of players expected from the London Stadium in the summer, there should be plenty of scope for the Academy lads to impress.
The truth is that Earthy was only ever signed as a squad player. The subsequent arrival of Scott Twine was always going to be seen as damaging to his prospects at City and so it has proved.
Twine`s recent absences have given Earthy an opportunity and to be fair he has grabbed it.
Sorry, you’ve managed to write a whole article based on an un-named source saying “no chance” and another un-named source saying “they couldn’t afford him anyway” – the reality is just let him finish his season at Bristol City and take stock from there.
Well said, it is also unfair to put the unforgiving pressure of expectation on these kids, who will be rubbished after the first mistake they make.
God what a pants article. Nothing sourced just my mate down the pub insider at WHU says nah!
If Bristol City get promoted of course they could afford him it’s as simple as that. If they don’t then The Hammers have a choice about bringing him back as clearly the could not afford him. The wild card is if Bristol City stay down what players will attract revenue Knight and Bird are obvious and what sell on will they get from what seems the certain move of Semenyo somewhere. Probably not West Ham as they couldn’t afford him. 😂
It would make a nice change to see some of the lads actually come through and make the grade, as this hasn’t happened for a long, long time.
Other than Noble, can only remember Tony Cottee before him – stand to be corrected, though !
They seem to get so far, then end up in lower leagues or in Scotland !
Whatever way you look at it, big Summer for the club as I think a lot of fans won’t tolerate again the garbage dished up this season.
Here’s hoping….
Micheal carrick, Stuart slater, Glen Johnston, joe Cole, Alan dickens, just to name a few Kenn 6
Kenny Brown, Rio, Anton and on and on
Big Fat Frank
James Tomkins
If it wasn’t for the knee injury, Jack Collison. He’d made the breakthrough, was improving then that happened.
Great how nobody has mentioned Rice 😆
Revealing I feel, to see a flair player come out of the Academy. Callum Marshall, Potts and Earthy all grabbing their chances, good showing by the lads. Shows how well the Academy is functioning. Proud of the club for what it is trying to do.
With the current setup: Academy coaches, loan placements, Mark Noble, manager Graham Potter willing to blood youngsters, am hopeful the Academy will provide more first team players over the next 5 seasons than is generally expected, given the high standards we have seen. Seeing Guilherme and Scarles for example, that last hurdle though, seems more like a trek up Snowden (not Everest!). Patience, patience, patience…