West Ham favourite Harrison Ashby has dropped hints over a Newcastle move with his social media activity following shock transfer links.
That’s what many fans are thinking after the hugely promising young West Ham fullback was linked with a move to Newcastle United over the weekend.
The Daily Mail claims Newcastle will bid £2.5m for Ashby before the transfer window closes on Thursday.
Newcastle are reportedly exploring a deal to sign West Ham right-back Ashby after a long-term injury to Emil Krafth.
RIght-back is an area where, on the face of it, West Ham appear pretty well stocked with Vladimir Coufal, Ben Johnson and swashbuckling young talent Ashby.
Newcastle meanwhile have Kieran Trippier and Javier Manquillo but the latter has been linked with a move away from Tyneside this summer.
West Ham have suddenly been linked with a move for Man United outcast Aaron Wan-Bissaka over the weekend, as confirmed by David Ornstein.
And that has some West Ham fans wondering whether something could be going on with the current right-back situation beyond Johnson’s hamstring injury sustained at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Many Hammers supporters would be loathe to lose Ashby, who has shown great promise during first team appearances over the last couple of seasons.
But now West Ham favourite Ashby appears to have dropped hints over a Newcastle move with his social media activity following the shock transfer links.
Yesterday some eagle-eyed – and perhaps paranoid – West Ham fans spotted that Ashby had started following two Newcastle players on Instagram – Trippier and his Scotland teammate Elliot Anderson.
Ashby then liked a Twitter post from Anderson about Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Wolves, in which he featured.
Some fans feel there is nothing untoward about Ashby following a player who plays in his position – Trippier – who he may look up to.
Or indeed one of his Scotland youth international teammates.
But it is the timing of the social media activity, off the back of the West Ham talent’s sudden links to Newcastle, that has some supporters thinking they could lose him to the Magpies.
West Ham and Newcastle fans won’t have long to wait to find out. The transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday.