Reece Oxford was reportedly at the centre of a shocking performance on Sunday as his Bundesliga loan outfit Augsburg were thrashed by Werder Bremen.
According to some European reports the Hammers wanted £26 million for the player but instead was given a chance by the German club on loan.
Both Manuel Pellegrini and the player had wanted a permanent parting of the ways with both making their positions clear.
However, no club was ready to hand the central defender that chance and instead he is now hoping to prove himself worthy of a deal at the end of the season.
However, his performance against Werder was apparently embarrassing as the wheels fell off in a big way against the inspired opposition.
Oxford started at central defence and was reportedly exposed time and time again with the third goal showing him at his worst.He was left on his backside as a Werder attacker cut inside and curled a shot into the far corner.
ClaretandHugh says: Whilst the leap from West Ham under 23s to Bundesliga football is as big as it gets this is a major setback for Oxford as he bids to re-ignite a career that has gone seriously off the rails over the last couple of seasons or so. Unfancied by David Moyes, the new manager wasn’t slow in letting the youngster know he simply wasn’t at the level he required for his first team squad and the news from Germany, whilst sad, is not surprising. We understand that various agents had been attempting to move him on and that there was no interest from either the PL or Championship spoke volumes. It is going to take almighty effort of will and dedication for the lad to return to the sort of potential so many saw in him once upon a time. And his side in form may also – as a sidebar – suggest why it’s not a great idea to give teenager’s huge wages which MAY put them in a comfort zone which isn’t healthy at such a tender age.
He has only just arrived there, like new players at any club it will take him time to settle down and learn the system, I don’t know how bad he was or wasn’t but if he was a new signing for us and had a bad game I wouldn’t crucify him.
In the previous game he debuted in a 3 nil win for Augsburg playing in midfield. He previously played in the Bundesliga in midfield but he was never going to play for West Ham in that position since he was surpassed by Declan Rice in his absence. You have to feel sorry for him in a way that Declan made his breakthrough as a similar player who can play midfield and centreback at the exact time Oxford should have been progressing into the first team for West Ham. This ‘horror show’ game was the first time he’s played at this level at centreback and it was in a difficult formation where he was having to cover the rightback who was bombing forward. It will be a learning curve for him but I watched the game. In the second half they went four at the back and he was centeback in a traditional back four and he was much better. It has to be said he’s playing in a poor team though. The players around him aren’t brilliant. You can see why they are in a relegation battle before Oxford arrived. So he’s going to have his work cut out defending in a team like that.