Borussia Monchengladbach are considering a new permanent bid for West Ham’s teenager Reece Oxford, Sky Sports claim.
Oxford has spent two loan spells with the German club, making seven Bundesliga appearances, but the 19-year old academy product has not been used by Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini since returning in the summer. Oxford has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Manchester City and RB Leipzig in the past and Monchengladbach, who are currently second in the Bundesliga, have reignited their interest says the report.
Monchengladbach were said to have had a previous £13m bid rejected for Oxford, Sky Sports News says that Monchengladbach could bid for Oxford in the January transfer window.
Claret and Hugh view:
This could well be the end of the West Ham line for Reece Oxford finally, much has been said since his debut as a 16-year-old under Slaven Bilic, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player. Harsh critics claim he built his reputation on one good game against Arsenal at the Emirates and hasn’t been the same since he became the Academy’s highest-paid teenager on a reported £20,000 per week. He signed a new four and a half year contract with West Ham in December 2016 and many have claimed he hasn’t been the same since and the money went to his head. The Hammers are thought to be prepared to entertain offers in excess of £10 million for the 19-year-old who joined West Ham at the age of 11 after his release from the Spurs Academy. It is a shame but maybe a new start in Germany could be just what Oxford needs to reignite his career.
How has Oxford not developed over 3 years! I understand he was 16 and too young to be a regular, but it was almost as if he was dropped from the face of the earth for 3 years.
How can someone with so much potential in our ‘famous and renowned’ academy of football not progress over 3 years? Sad to see him go.
Half of me hopes he becomes a world beater and the selfish half of me hopes his career fades away. Happy either way I guess (sorta).
Pity nobody made it clear to him that he had to put in the work and dedication, instead of acting like he had already arrived. If only Rice had come first, then Oxford could have followed his example.
Best now to take the money ( hopefully £15 – 20 mil ), and give his undeserved wages to Rice to keep him at West Ham for the foreseeable future.
If he is shaken out of his stupor by the move and becomes a world beater, then good luck to him.