Carlton Cole, the former West Ham United striker who now works as the Loans and Pathways Manager at the London Stadium, is likely to be a very busy man during the January transfer window.
Because the Premier League outfit have a whole host of exciting young talent who fall right into the centre of this Venn diagram.
On the left, those who still need time to hone their abilities in youth team football. In the right-hand circle, those who have outgrown the Under-21s and deserve to prove themselves in the men’s game.
How far can George Earthy go at West Ham?
Which Hammers youngster are you most EXCITED about and why?
Mohamadou Kante, Finlay Herrick and Ezra Mayers may consider themselves belonging in the centre.
Centre-back Mayers wants to kick on after a Premier League debut against Brighton this month. Goalkeeper Herrick earned himself an England U21 call-up while representing Boreham Wood in non-league.
And after Colchester manager Danny Cowley likened Kante to Patrick Vieira, a midfielder who has dominated players much older than him in EFL Trophy action would surely not look out of place during a loan spell in the lower leagues.
George Earthy, though, had proven himself capable of operating at a much higher level than the Under-21s even before the current campaign got underway. Earthy won Bristol City’s Young Player of the Year award in May.
The standout youngster in a Robins side who finished sixth in the Championship. No wonder he looks a cut above against rival Under-21 sides, and against the likes of Truro City, MK Dons and Colchester in the cup competitions.
Bristol City fans would love West Ham United’s George Earthy to return
If there is no place for Earthy in Nuno Espirito Santo’s immediate plans, then, he would be welcomed back with open arms at Ashton Gate, even if there are some Bristol City supporters who feel his impact might have been a little overblown.
“George Earthy is being made available apparently. We should be all over this if it’s true! Knows the club after last season, fits the style, can play two or three positions… Perfect signing,” one Robins fanatic writes on X.
“He’ll be available for loan. That could work,” another agrees. “He would give a boost for sure, but he wasn’t as good as some make out, in my opinion. Granted, he scored a few vital goals but the rest he was only average. If he came and carried on where he’d left off, then for sure he’d be mint.”
“His work rate was quality.”
“Would love to see him under [coach Gerhard] Struber. Would make sense with [midfielder Max] Bird still out.”
“I would give an arm and a leg to see George Earthy in red and white again.”
“Fanbase seems quite split over this. I agree, he took a while to settle, but I’d have him back in a heartbeat. [Scott] Twine is going backwards while I see Earthy as a growing talent
“If the rumours are true he’s up for sale in January, I’d sign him up.”
“We need to prepare for losing [out of contract talisman Anis] Mehmeti. Earthy is a perfect fit for the ‘ten’ role and can cover other positions. Wouldn’t want to lose out on signing him.”
Earthy may be in contention for a Premier League return against Manchester City
Just how on earth can West Ham BEAT Man City? 😱
And which Hammers stars can make the difference on Saturday?
It did not go unnoticed that Earthy and Kante were omitted by West Ham for Wednesday’s 2-1 Premier League Interational Cup defeat by Sporting Lisbon.
The last time the Hammers kids played in this competition, Greg Lincoln also left out a number of standout performers. Kante made his first-team debut against Manchester United 24 hours later.
So should Earthy be expected form be part of a Premier League roster for the first time since May 2024 when Man City kick off on Saturday? Time will tell.
The only certainty is that an entire season spent dominating Under-21 pitches would feel like a waste, especially after Earthy held his own at Championship level only a few months prior.
“Our boys will have seen what that next level looks like with George Earthy,” Lincoln, who has stepped into the Under-21 head coach role following Mark Robson’s promotion, told the official West Ham website after the attacking midfielder scored one and set up another in a 3-2 EFL Trophy win over fourth-tier Swindon Town.
“He was outstanding. The way that he led the team through his actions was excellent.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
