Reported Liverpool target Jeremy Ngakia to become free agent, gave Sadio Mane a tough time

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Reported Liverpool target Jeremy Ngakia will officially be a free agent as of next month, after West Ham confirmed that he’ll be leaving the club when his contract expires on 30 June.

The 19-year-old will leave the London Stadium after rejecting what the Hammers described as “significantly improved terms” for him to pen a new deal.

According to Read Liverpool, the Reds opened talks with Ngakia earlier this month in a bid to bring him to Anfield on a free transfer.

Premier League clubs had until June 23 to confirm whether their players were set to remain until the end of the season, and in Ngakia’s case, the Hammers have lost out.

“Academy of Football graduate Jeremy Ngakia, who has made five first-team starts in 2020, is also leaving the club after not signing a new contract,” read a West Ham statement.

“In line with our structure and policy, Jeremy was offered significantly improved terms to reward his breakthrough into the first-team squad this year, along with further contractual enhancements linked to his future progress and success.

“However, the player and his representatives declined to accept any of the offers, and also turned down a short-term extension until the end of the current season.”

Ngakia will leave the Hammers along with Pablo Zabaleta and Carlos Sanchez when their respective contract expire at the end of June.

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Ngakia was handed his debut against Liverpool in January and made quite an impression, going on to follow it up with a superb performance in February’s return fixture, keeping Sadio Mane at bay for much of the game.

Pablo Zabaleta, who fell behind Ngakia in the Hammers pecking order, was left in awe of the youngster’s performance in the 3-2 loss at Anfield.

“You’ve been very good defensively, very solid performance,” the Argentine said on the West Ham YouTube channel. “Very tight on Mane. You’ve never let him turn and run through. Then when you had a chance to get forward and support the attack, you did it very well with a few good crosses. You’ve got the speed to get forward.

“Full back is a very demanding position in terms of running up and down. It was a shame we didn’t get anything from the game but you as an individual have to be very proud of your game, what you’ve done. You’ve been superb. How old are you, 19? Keep working hard, listening, be a good professional and good luck in your career. You can go for 15 more years.”

With Nathaniel Clyne set to leave Liverpool at the end of the month, is Jurgen Klopp eyeing Ngakia as a direct replacement?