Tunji Akinola, Mason Barrett, Jahmal Hector-Ingram, Josh Pask: The 4 West Ham starlets out of contract this summer

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Four West Ham academy players are out of contract at the end of this season. Tunji Akinola, Mason Barrett, Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Josh Pask all face uncertain futures.

Here, we take a brief look at each of them in profile and judge what their current options look like if they stay.

Tunji Akinola

Position: Centre-back.

Description on whufc.com: “Tall and composed, Akinola is a ball-playing centre-back.”

Akinola has played 17 times for the under-23 team this season. The 20-year-old is comfortable at youth level and probably needs a testing loan spell if he extends his deal.

Mason Barrett

Position: Centre-back or full-back.

Description on whufc.com: “Able to fill the centre-back and both full-back positions, Barrett became a full-time scholar in the summer of 2016, but injuries restricted his appearances over the following two seasons.”

Barrett is on the fringes of the under-23 squad, behind Ajibola Alese, Akinola, Pask and Reece Oxford in the pecking order. The 19-year-old is still young, though, and could step up if the club decide to sell or loan some of the current academy central defenders.

Jahmal Hector-Ingram

Position: Striker.

Description on whufc.com: “Born and raised in Upton Park, Hector-Ingram has been banging the goals in for the Club for more than a decade. The forward is a potent finisher who will hope to take his ability to score goals onto the senior level.”

The club held high hopes for prolific youth team striker Hector-Ingram but he has only scored once for the under-23 team this season. The 20-year-old used to represent England at under-17 level but his chances of a West Ham call-up are slim, unless he proves himself on loan next season.

Josh Pask

Position: Centre-back.

Description on whufc.com: “Began his career as a striker as a schoolboy…Is now a centre-back who can also play as a holding midfielder.”

It is a shame that Pask has suffered injuries that have set his progress back. Having already proven himself in the lower leagues with Dagenham & Redbridge and Gillingham, perhaps it would be in his best interests to complete a permanent move. But if offered a new deal, the 21-year-old might fancy sticking around, especially if Oxford departs.