West Ham United is closely monitoring the progress of emerging talent Miles Leaburn from Charlton Athletic, with exclusive information obtained by TEAMtalk. Leaburn, who recently turned 20, has made a significant impact at the League One club this season, contributing to 10 goals in 18 appearances. West Ham is evaluating the young forward’s potential for a possible transfer, as they adopt a two-pronged recruitment strategy heading into the new year. The club aims to secure promising young talent from the Football League, complementing their pursuit of established players to bolster the first team under manager David Moyes.
Miles Leaburn, the son of former Charlton striker Carl Leaburn, who enjoyed a prolific spell with the Addicks in the late 1980s and 1990s, has been closely observed by West Ham throughout the season. The club is particularly interested in assessing how quickly he could transition to a higher level of competition. Despite Charlton’s desire to retain him in this early phase of his development, West Ham is actively considering the possibility of acquiring him in 2024. Leaburn, who scored seven times and provided three assists in various competitions this term, spent his youth in Chelsea’s renowned academy system before joining Charlton in 2019. He made his debut for Charlton in July 2022 at the age of 18.
Known for his aerial prowess and instinctive finishing in and around the box, Leaburn’s qualities have sparked speculation about a potential return to Chelsea in recent months. Brentford, facing the potential departure of Ivan Toney in the January transfer window, has also been linked with the forward. However, West Ham remains committed to tracking Leaburn’s progress and may intensify efforts to sign him in 2024.
West Ham manager David Moyes has a well-established reputation for discovering promising talent from lower leagues. During his nine-year tenure at Everton from 2002 to 2013, Moyes successfully signed players such as Joleon Lescott (from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace), and Jermaine Beckford (Leeds United). More recently, Moyes brought Jarrod Bowen to West Ham from Championship club Hull City in January 2020. Bowen has since become one of West Ham’s standout performers, notably scoring the winning goal in last season’s Europa Conference League final, securing the club’s first trophy in 43 years. The 26-year-old has also earned five caps for the England national team under manager Gareth Southgate.