An admittedly-distracted Lucas Paqueta scored only four. The goalscoring streak James Ward-Prowse frequently displayed as captain of Southampton has deserted him in East London. Just one goal in 15 league matches in a West Ham United<\/a> shirt last term.<\/p>\n Edson Alvarez, Andy Irving and Guido Rodriguez didn\u2019t even get off the mark.<\/p>\n The problem is not merely a lack of goals, meanwhile, but a lack of intent too. Again, barring Soucek, there is a real shortage of midfielders at West Ham capable or willing to make charging runs into the penalty area. And even fewer with a penchant \u2013 or the speed \u2013 required for darting in behind the last line of opposition defences.<\/p>\n So, enter Jacob Ramsey<\/a>. Or, at least, that is the plan.<\/p>\n Aston Villa\u2019s 4-0 friendly thumping of AS Roma on Wednesday could hardly have provided a better insight into the talents Jacob Ramsey would bring to the London Stadium. Talents this West Ham squad is drastically short of.<\/p>\n As Youri Tielemans waited for options to present themselves, Ramsey saw a gap and raced into it. Timing, curving his run beautifully as the Roma backline pushed up, the former England Under-21 international latched onto Tielemans through ball, took one touch to settle himself, and then coolly slotted his finish past an advancing goalkeeper.<\/p>\n Ramsey has scored only two Premier League goals in two injury-hit campaigns from 2023 \u2013 2025. <\/p>\n This, though, was a timely reminder why the Aston Villa academy graduate had been tipped for greatness right at the dawn of his top-flight career, when Ramsey burst onto the scene with 12 goals across his first couple of seasons as a senior player.<\/p>\n Steven Gerrard said Ramsey \u2018will be a terrific player\u2019 <\/p>\n During the 2022\/23 campaign, in particular, a pre-injury Ramsey blossomed into one of the Premier League\u2019s most feared, box-crashing midfielders. <\/p>\n Take those eye-catching finishes against Manchester United, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Tottenham and Liverpool. All follow a similar theme. <\/p>\n Either, Ramsey converts after arriving late in the penalty area \u2013 a talent he surely honed under Steven Gerrard at Villa Park \u2013 or he runs in behind, latches onto a defence-splitting through ball, and finishes emphatically one-v-one.<\/p>\n Add seven assists to his six league goals that term, and it\u2019s no wonder Aston Villa believe Jacob Ramsey remains \u2018one of the best young midfielders in Europe\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI want him to make his own headlines with his football. He is a top talent, I\u2019m loving every moment of working with him,\u201d Liverpool legend Gerrard said shortly before he was replaced by Unai Emery in 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not following in anyone\u2019s footsteps. Jacob Ramsey is Jacob Ramsey. He will be a terrific player. It won\u2019t be long before the whole country is watching him I\u2019m sure.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is right up there, let me tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hammers News have been informed that Ramsey is valued at a staggering \u00a350 million. Yet, while many Aston Villa fans believe the time may be right<\/a> to move on \u2013 injuries and competition for places have stalled his progress since that outstanding 2022\/23 campaign \u2013 one suspects that a decent offer could twist the arm of a Villa side facing sustained Financial Fair Play concerns.<\/p>\n Ramsey would, of course, represent \u2018pure profit\u2019 from a Profit and Sustainability perspective. With that in mind, West Ham could potentially barter down a lower fee. Especially given that Will Salthouse, Ramsey\u2019s agent, is close to Hammers chairman David Sullivan.<\/p>\n![\"Aston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228825164-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Clive Mason\/Getty ImagesJacob Ramsey explains West Ham United interest as Aston Villa batter Roma<\/p>\n