Sky Sports presenter Tom White claimed West Ham defender Reece Oxford could still be the star he was expected to be.
The host of Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk made the remarks after Sky Sports’ website described the 20-year-old Hammers centre-back as being one of the Premier League’s forgotten men.
White stated that Oxford as well as Manchester United’s Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who also featured on the broadcaster’s list, could still fulfil the potential they were previously perceived to have.
“Reece Oxford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah very young, could still be the stars we always expected,” said White on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk (Sky Sports News, 9:51am, Friday, July 5th).
OPINION
Could Oxford still be the star the Hammers once thought he was? The 20-year-old has had his fair share of chances after all. Sky Sports claim that Oxford is far too young to be written off just yet, even though they point out his career at West Ham has stalled since bursting onto the scene four years ago. However, that doesn’t mean the club that should continue to give him a chance should be the Hammers. Oxford has played a total of 17 times for the Hammers’ senior side and has been given countless loan spells away from the club in order to prove himself. The latest loan spell the 20-year-old had away from the club was with German club Augsburg in the second half os his 2018/19 and it didn’t exactly go well for him. Oxford featured just nine times, only playing 595 minutes for them, and even managed to pick up a three-game suspension during his brief time with them. The 20-year-old was also part of the Augsburg’s side that lost 8-1 to Wolfsburg on the last day of the season, and that’s hardly a testament to his defensive talents. So while White has faith in him, you do feel the 20-year-old would have to move mountains in pre-season to be able to be kept and the club.
