West Ham have offered a new one-year contract to keep right-back Jeremy Ngakia at the club next season, according to reports in the English media.
The 19-year-old is currently on a scholarship programme, but the Hammers are keen to extend the deal in order to buy more time to negotiate a senior contract.
However, fans on Twitter think the London club should have already offered Ngakia an extension on lucrative terms for the long term:
1 year? His agent will shopping him about.
— 2Dubya ⚒️ (@CouchPotatoUK) March 12, 2020
1 year wow that’s generous of them, I would be off in my Toes
— Billy⚒⚒ (@BillyWhufcCoyi2) March 12, 2020
One year?????????
— Bernard Mowle (@BernardMowle) March 12, 2020
Needs to be 4/5 years
— Gabes (@gabeswhu) March 12, 2020
Deserves a much longer contract in my opinion.
— Steve (@49whufc_smh) March 12, 2020
1 year??? He's played a couple of games and outperformed most other players. Unless it's age related he deserves better
— ⚒HammerUK⚒ (@mjd_hammer) March 12, 2020
Should be getting a 4/5 yr deal for me we don’t need a new rb in the summer because of him
— will earle (@willearle_) March 12, 2020
Considering Ngakia appears to be ahead of Pablo Zabaleta in the pecking order at right-back, supporters are right to be surprised by the delay in giving the fullback a senior deal.
The teenager has impressed in every game he has played for the first team this season, having now played the full 90 minutes in the Irons’ last three Premier League matches.
Ngakia is expected to start once more when West Ham face Wolves on Sunday, with Ryan Fredericks still sidelined with a shoulder injury.