West Ham have accepted an improved offer from Newcastle for Harrison Ashby, The West Ham Way can confirm.

The Academy graduate had been reported by ExWHUEmployee to have turned down an offer to remain in East London last summer, with the right back close to signing for the Magpies then.

The move did not materialise and West Ham had attempted to retain Ashbys services, although a revised offer was again rejected in November as again exclusively disclosed by Ex, with the defender then looking certain to be heading for the exit.

Ex stated at the beginning of the January transfer window that the club had set a valuation on Ashby, but it appeared that Newcastle may opt to gamble and obtain the defender in the summer via a tribunal – however the Magpies have now decided to match West Ham’s valuation of around £3m.

Ex has confirmed the news on Patreon, which thankfully will draw a line on a long running saga, which ultimately and sadly sees a highly rated Academy player depart the club having joined back when he was 9.

“We can confirm that Newcastle have decided to match the fee for Harrison Ashby,” stated our man-in-the-know. “Which will amount to £3m with the addition of sell on clauses.

”It is thought that their initial offer of closer to £2m was rejected yesterday with the club deciding to come back and match West Ham’s evaluation rather than wait until a tribunal.

“Harrison Ashby was another player brought to the club by Dave Hunt and had refused to sign a new contract with us sighting that he could get much more money from moving on.”