OPINION
Reece Oxford, Sam Byram and Jordan Hugill have no long-term futures at West Ham and will reportedly be sold before the end of the window – as long as buyers can be found – according to Claret & Hugh.
The blog that’s a solid source of West Ham news reported that Oxford could leave for £10million and that the club is seeking permanent moves for the two others.
Byram never really made the grade after coming from Leeds in 2016 and it’s no big surprise to see him on the for-sale list.
Hugill was a always a weird buy – a seemingly panic-induced purchase in January which most West Ham fans weren’t impressed with at all.
He’d never done much before. 12 goals in 44 games in the Championship in the 16/17 season with Preston North End didn’t suggest a future Premier League hotshot.
He was relatively cheap at £9million, until you factor in that he only played three league games for West Ham and now no-one seems to want to buy him. West Ham have had loan offers but want to get rid of him permanently. Thankfully, in Pellegrini, they now have a manager who won’t make mistakes like this any more.
However, it looks like he might be about to make a misstep with Oxford.
The 19-year-old centre-back was once heralded as one of the country’s next big things.
That’s seemingly all changed after a couple of loan spells with Borussia Monchengladbach.
After his first loan to Germany he was afforded just three games for West Ham last season, didn’t impress enough and was shipped back off in January.
Gladbach have indicated they would take him back and Oxford seems to like the idea of a move to the Bundesliga, but we think Oxford should get one more season with West Ham under Pellegrini.
The 6ft 3in enforcer is still only 19-years-old and could still develop into the world talent that he promised before. It would be a terrible waste if West Ham sold him only to watch him develop to his full elsewhere.
He’s done enough in the Bundlesliga for them to want him back and last season should be wiped from the records – the atmosphere around West Ham was terrible and it’s easy to see why Oxford didn’t perform.
What harm can giving him one more chance at West Ham do? Unless a really big offer comes in, and that’s unlikely, we think Pellegrini should reconsider.
