West Ham United boss David Moyes has revealed he still hopes he can keep wantaway starlet Jeremy Ngakia.
Ngakia sent shockwaves through West Ham by refusing to sign a new deal worth around £5,000 per week as well as refusing to extend his terms until the end of the season interrupted by the global health crisis.
The 19-year-old right-back was thrown in at the deep end of West Ham’s Premier League relegation battle before the enforced break.
Moyes showed great trust in the youngster, selecting him ahead of veteran Pablo Zabaleta.
West Ham Ngakia love story over before its begun?
And Ngakia rewarded the Scot with some superb performances as West Ham slowly improved.
The Hammers are very much still in the relegation mix. And they have nine games to secure their Premier League status.
As things stand Ngakia will leave the club on June 30th, with seven of those games remaining.
It has left a bitter taste in the mouths of West Ham fans and Moyes.
But the Hammers boss has today revealed he still hopes to convince Ngakia to remain at West Ham in an exclusive interview with The Evening Standard.
Moyes holding on to hope that he can keep starlet
If that is to be the case West Ham have until June 23rd – when they travel to play Tottenham – to agree to extend Ngakia’s stay until the end of the season at least.
“We are really surprised and disappointed that Jeremy is not going to stay at West Ham,” Moyes told The Evening Standard.
“We’re also really disappointed with his decision not to stay beyond June 30. I don’t agree with that and I also think it’s something the Premier League should not allow to happen, because it means the season is not starting and finishing in the same way.
“We like him, we want him to feel he’s been given the best service we can give and maybe there’s still a little hope that we can change his mind.
“We haven’t given up all hope of Jeremy realising he has got it wrong, but I have to say he has told me directly that it is not his choice to stay.”
Clock is ticking over extension
Ngakia only needs to look at the likes of Reece Oxford who thought the grass was greener elsewhere.
While he is clearly talented, Ngakia is still very raw.
And his development would surely be best served at the club which has nurtured him and given him his big break in the Premier League.
The clock is ticking.
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