With reports that West Ham United are involved in contract negations with Under 23s midfielder Conor Coventry, some fans have been voicing contrasting views on the matter.
According to Claret and Hugh (as cited by West Ham News on Twitter), the Hammers aim to tie Coventry down to a new contract that would keep the highly-rated prospect in East London, but are yet to agree on terms with his representatives.
It is suggested Base Soccer Agency, the group who represent the Hammers’ U23s captain, are demanding substantial wages for the 19-year-old, who is yet to feature in the Premier League and has only been listed on four matchday squads.
Coventry has represented West Ham’s first-team twice in his career, with both outings coming in the EFL Cup over the past two seasons (TransferMarkt), although his appearance in this year’s Second Round win over Newport County came as an 82nd-minute replacement for Jack Wilshere.
The Republic of Ireland U21 international has represented the Irons’ 66 times at youth level, with 42 games in their U23s, where he has scored once and assisted twice in 3,389 minutes of action.
Coventry has been described as an all-round midfielder in the past (C&H), with abilities to recover possession and then begin counter attacks with his accurate passing range, but faces a block into the first-team fold by the likes of Carlos Sanchez (TransferMarkt).
Some West Ham fans are unconvinced in the benefits of caving to Coventry’s agent’s wishes in negations, with a few voicing that there are better emerging talents elsewhere in their academy.
Here are some of the messages shared:
cant hold the club to ransom, if he was that good he be involved by now, prob on the same lines as Josh Cullen good but not good enough for the step up SELL
— steve hill (@steve5705) October 10, 2019
Absolutely agree. Release him. No one should hold us to ransom, especially a youth player.
— G (@gdizzle1981) October 10, 2019
Release as he’s unproven
— Brad ? WHUFC (@BradHellyer1) October 10, 2019
A number of West Ham supporters have also suggested the experienced players at the London Stadium should step in to offer Coventry some words of advice in the midst of his contract situation, as they do not want to see the midfielder head down the same path as someone like Reece Oxford.
Oxford became the Hammers’ youngest-ever player in 2015 when he was introduced at Upton Park as a 16-year-old in a Europa League qualifying tie against Andorran side Lusitanos, but only went on to make a further 16 first-team outings (TransferMarkt) before joining FC Augsburg on an initial loan deal in January.
The Bundesliga side turned the 20-year-old centre-back’s temporary arrangement into a permanent deal this summer for £2.1million (Sam Inkersole), and have called on the former England U20 international six times this season, while having him on a contract below the £20,000-a-week he had been earning with West Ham.
If he allows his agent to lead him from here just for money then he’s a fool , and I don’t mean that disrespectfully, he needs to concentrate on his progress not his agents wallet
— jockney (@dmwalker70) October 10, 2019
He undoubtedly has ‘unproven’ potential, but we don’t want another Oxford on our hands! Someone needs to sit him down, not an agent / advisor, someone who’s been there, someone like Declan Rice, explain to him, prove your worth and the fame / money will come
— Simon Pay (@mr51pay) October 11, 2019
While a range of supporters are open to seeing Coventry leave if his representatives do not lower their demands for an unproven talent, there are West Ham fans reticent to the prospect of seeing the young midfielder leave the London Stadium.
They feel there must be a compromise to be had somewhere in discussions, with Coventry potentially moving out on loan in the winter or next season, should players like Sanchez continue to block his path into the first-team in East London.
Find a compromise then get the lad game time at the highest level possible to push him on. That is if he doesn’t figure in our first XI I’d rather see Coventry play than Sanchez.
— William Field (@wilfield71) October 10, 2019