OPINION
Manuel Pellegrini’s spending spree at West Ham this summer has endangered the first-team prospects of many young players at the club, including centre-back Reece Oxford.
Oxford spent last season on loan in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach, and it was widely expected that he would leave the club on a temporary basis again after their heavy outlay on nine players in the transfer market.
That move has however not yet materialised, and with time fast running out in the EFL loan and European windows, it looks as though Oxford could be set to stay at the London Stadium until January at least.
That is exactly what Claret and Hugh, a reliable club insider website, seem to think, with only Bolton having shown serious interest in the talented 19-year-old enforcer so far.
It was also previously reported by Sky Sports that Oxford had committed his future to the club, with the youngster telling those close to him that he was ready to help Pellegrini in any way he can.
Despite this reported show of loyalty, the club must still try to work out a loan exit for Oxford before the end of the window on the 31st of August.
The first-team squad already has five established centre-back options available to Pellegrini, so the chances of him getting a chance in the senior set-up are low.
A year spent in the reserves will go no way towards Oxford’s development, and the club must now accept that a loan exit may involve them subsidising his wages.
The rewards in the long run will be far more than the cost of paying around £5,000-a-week towards his wages at Bolton, with Claret and Hugh reporting that the Trotters are ready to pay 70% of his current £20,000-a-week pay packet.
Oxford’s reported declaration of loyalty is brilliant for the club, with the prospect of him coming good in the near future, but for now a loan exit is the only sensible option.
