In an interview to Football Insider, ex Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has tipped West Ham United prodigy Veron Parkes to make a ‘Jeremie Frimpong-style’ switch to Parkhead this summer. Hutton conceded that a young player of Parkes’ quality isn’t gaining anything by warming the bench at the London Stadium when he could instead be playing regular football upon a move to Glasgow. The report suggests that the forward even turned down a contract offer from the Hammers.
With Hutton tipping Celtic to move for Veron Parkes, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the youngster making a switch in the summer. The former Aston Villa defender said, “The kids aren’t scared to make a big decision and this is obviously yet another one. Jeremie Frimpong did it so these guys will see people like that and think: ‘I can do that, I’m willing to do that, step out my comfort zone and play week in, week out.’
“What’s the point of just sitting at West Ham for years and you just go missing so I think it’s a great thing.”
What Attributes Would Parkes Bring To Parkhead Upon Moving?
The 18-year-old is one of the most technically gifted centre-forwards in the entirety of the Premier League youth system, as can be seen from his displays for the Hammers’ U18 side. Supremely quick over short distances and not afraid to take on the odd defender, Parkes is arguably the most intelligent striker that David Moyes’ team currently have at their disposal. Despite this, the youngster’s diminutive frame could be what’s holding him back.
Although Parkes is only 1.75m tall, he boasts good upper body strength and balance, meaning that the forward is comfortable using his pace to get past challenges. The West Ham ace seems to make the right kind of runs to open up spaces for his teammates, while also having the presence of mind to pick out the correct passes.
One of the biggest downfalls for strikers of such a young age is their greed to score as many goals as possible. Parkes, despite showcasing excellent instincts in the final third, is just as comfortable picking out a teammate who is better positioned to score.
How Did Veron Parkes Make A Name For Himself?
Having been born in London, the youngster began his youth career with Crystal Palace, before making the switch across the English capital to join West Ham United. Since that move in December 2017, the striker has gone on to achieve big things at the London Stadium. His 14 fixtures for the Hammers’ U18 side this season have yielded a quite impressive record of 11 goals and six assists – thereby highlighting the forward’s unselfishness. Parkes was even rewarded with a couple of outings for West Ham’s PL2 side this season.
Hutton Tipping Celtic To Move For Veron Parkes: Should Lennon Get This Done?
When Odsonne Edouard arrived from PSG as a 20-year-old, not many would’ve thought that they’d be seeing the Frenchman as the first choice in such a short time. The rate at which Parkes has been developing is rapid, and given that he’s already a much more mature player than most others his age, it would make sense for a club like Celtic to provide the player with the opportunity he needs. A mere promise of more playing time should be enough to convince the forward, and if they’re able to get it done this summer, it could be the start of something new for Neil Lennon’s side.
