Although it is less than two weeks since the summer transfer window closed, it seems as though some thoughts at Leeds United, are already turning towards the January market.
There is likely to be more work for the club to do when that window does reopen, with certain voids in the squad still needing to be filled.
One player who is seemingly on Leeds’ radar as we slowly start to move towards the January window, is Harrison Ashby, who is currently on the books of Premier League rivals West Ham.
That link to Ashby is one that is likely to raise a fair amount of questions among Leeds fans, and we’ve taken a look at some of the biggest ones, right here.
Who is he?
A right-back, Ashby has come through the youth ranks at West Ham, after initially joining the club from Chelsea in the summer of 2010.
Having worked his way through the academy system with the Hammers, the now 20-year-old Ashby is currently on the fringes of David Moyes’ first-team.
The young defender has already made six first-team appearances across all competitions for West Ham.
But amid that speculation around his future, only one of those has come during the current campaign, when he played the full 90 minutes of the first leg his side’s Europe Conference League qualifying win over Viborg.
What do we know about Leeds’ interest?
It seems as though Leeds’ interest in Ashby first emerged late in this summer’s transfer window.
Journalist Alan Nixon reported on deadline day that the Whites were making a move for the right-back, and were willing to offer him more game time than West Ham, though no deal materialised.
Nixon subsequently claimed after the window had closed that Leeds, unlike another interested side in Newcastle, remained keen on the 20-year-old, but that West Ham are working to secure him to a new deal, with his current contract expiring next summer.
Since then, journalist Dean Jones has also suggested that Leeds remain keen on Ashby, but that any deal could depend on what happens with regards to a new contract with West Ham for the right-back.
Is a move likely?
Given his contract situation at West Ham, a move to Leeds could well be a possibility for Ashby.
If they are unable to secure a new contract for him, then the January transfer window would be the Hammers’ last chance to receive a fee for him.
That would mean that an offer from Elland Road, would potentially put the London club under some pressure to sell the 20-year-old.
However, with Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen and Cody Drameh all currently providing first-team options for Leeds on the right of their defence, there would surely have to be questions about whether a move for Ashby is one the club need to be prioritising come January.
Do Leeds need to sign Ashby?
Yes
No
