Oxford’s new home for a few months
West Ham are tonight reported to have completed a deal with Bundesliga outfit FC Augsburg according to Sky sources.
Oxford’s future has been under the spotlight this window with speculation that Forest and Eintracht Frankfurt had shown an interest but that was fake news.
Now it seems the 20 year old – unwanted at the Hammers by manager Manuel Pellegrini and desperate to get out himself – is on a return journey to Germany where he was with Borrusia Monchengladbach last season on loan.
That was interrupted by David Moyes who recalled him to the club but he failed to make any impression and has since sunk to the bottom of the central defensive pile at the club.
Augsburg are currently 15th in the league and even in German terms that represents a mighty fall for Oxford given that Gladbach are currently third in the league behind Borrusia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
It’s a deal that suits nobody really because both the club and player wanted a permanent parting of the ways which hasn’t happened although presumably there will be an option attached to the deal giving Augsburg the opportunity to buy him at season end.
Oxford has yet to play a game for West Ham this season, with his last appearance for the club coming in October 2016.
So after all the talk that he would only be sold and not loaned? He was sat on the bench for most of his time at Munchen Gladbach, so a loan move to a team lower down in the German league might be a good move for him if it means he gets to play and get the experience that Pellegrini said he needs.
Not sure a relegation battle will help
I guess it will either make him or break him.
Augsburg is not a very pretty city and there isn’t much to do there. It might be a good thing though, as Oxford has to focus on his game. That said, the area is very pretty. The alps are close, Munich is less than one hour away, and there won’t be the pressure of a big club and big metropolis. Who knows, it might work?