Amina UmarWest Ham United have missed out on signing Amario Cozier-Durberry, with the 19-year-old winger joining Brighton & Hove Albion on a four-year contract. The Hammers were one of several clubs interested in Cozier-Durberry, who was a free agent after his contract with Arsenal expired at the end of the season.
According to the Evening Standard, West Ham were keen to sign Cozier-Durberry, but faced stiff competition from Aston Villa, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, Rangers, and Al-Ettifaq. However, Brighton’s reputation for developing young players and their ability to offer Premier League football convinced Cozier-Durberry to join the Seagulls.
While West Ham’s failure to sign Cozier-Durberry may be disappointing, it’s not entirely surprising given the level of interest in the young winger. Manager Julen Lopetegui will be keen to add to his squad this summer, but the pathway for young players at West Ham may not be as clear as it is at Brighton.West Ham have a strong squad with players like Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen impressing out wide, but supporters would like to see young players given more opportunities in the first team.
The departures of Ben Johnson and Divin Mubama this summer have reduced the number of academy graduates in the squad, and Lopetegui will need to balance his desire for results with the need to develop young talent.Cozier-Durberry’s decision to join Brighton may not be a major blow for West Ham, but it does highlight the challenge the club faces in attracting top young talent. The Hammers will need to be creative in the transfer market and look for opportunities to develop their own young players if they are to compete with the likes of Brighton and other Premier League clubs.
In other news, Danny Ings’ stance on a summer move away from West Ham has emerged amid links with Southampton. The striker has been linked with a move to the Saints, but it remains to be seen whether West Ham will allow him to leave.
Sport nation
