West Ham United will be extremely disappointed to have lost young starlet Sonny Perkins to Leeds United this summer.
That is according to Pete O’Rourke who was speaking to This is Futbol about the Irons’ remaining transfer business during the summer transfer window.
Perkins joined Leeds in July, with the youngster unable to see a pathway into the first-team at the London Stadium this summer.
The 18-year-old’s fee is being negotiated between Leeds and West Ham in order to avoid a tribunal for the six-time England U18 international.
And O’Rourke believes that David Moyes’ side will be disappointed to lose out on such a talented young player that they had helped develop.
“It’s a blow for West Ham, definitely.
“You don’t want to be losing your best young players.
“But obviously, Sonny Perkins did not see a pathway into that first team at West Ham and he’s decided to make that move to Leeds, hoping that he might get more opportunities there.
“At any club, you don’t want to be losing the best young talent that you’ve helped develop.
“But for Leeds United they’ve moved quickly and swiftly to bring Perkins in, so West Ham’s loss is Leeds’ gain.”
TIF Thoughts on O’Rourke comments
We agree with O’Rourke in the sense that West Ham will be frustrated to have lost out on the young striker, who was directly involved in 18 goals across senior and youth teams last season.
And we also believe that the club could have found him some first team gametime to satisfy the striker this season, with Moyes relying on winger Michail Antonio to play down the centre for the club over the last season.
It will be frustrating to watch for West Ham fans, if Perkins turns into the player that his undoubted potential suggests he can.