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Leeds United in centre of Sonny Perkins contract twist at West Ham United as source speaks out
Leeds United target Sonny Perkins still has 12 months left on his contract at West Ham despite reports suggesting his deal is up this summer, according to Claret & Hugh.
The Guardian reported on Thursday (9 June) that Perkins, 18, is out of contract at the end of this month and the Hammers are struggling to get him to agree fresh terms.
However, West Ham news website Claret & Hugh also claimed on Thursday that Perkins’ deal doesn’t run out until next year and the confusion stems from the fact that the striker’s agent is demanding a contract extension that includes a big pay rise.
Claret & Hugh’s source at the London Stadium reportedly said: “He’s with us for another year.
“The agent wants silly money to extend his contract for a player who has yet to play a first-team game.”
The Guardian report that Leeds, Aston Villa and Tottenham are all interested in signing Perkins this summer.
Contract twist
Well, this is quite the turn of events.
It seems as though we have the makings of a transfer saga here because there are conflicting claims in the national press and from independent sites that have close ties to West Ham.
Either way, it seems that one thing is clear and that is that Perkins’ agent is asking for a deal that’s deemed too expensive by the Hammers and that could lead to his move away from the London Stadium this summer.
If his contract does expire this year then Leeds will have to pay a compensation fee. If it doesn’t, the Whites will have to reach an agreement with West Ham for the young striker’s services.
Despite what Claret & Hugh’s source said, Perkins has played three times for the West Ham senior side.
All three of those appearances came in the 2021/22 season when he appeared twice in the Europa League and once in the Premier League.
Perkins actually started a Europa League group stage defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, playing 87 minutes before he was substituted off by David Moyes, who seems to rate the teenager highly.
If Leeds do sign Perkins, he’ll be one for the Under-23s and might fill the void left by Joe Gelhardt, who’s clearly a member of Jesse Marsch’s first-team squad now.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay says Leeds are pushing for an agreement to seal a major new addition to their midfield.