West Ham should offload Reece Oxford and Winston Reid in January
West Ham have really turned it around after a disastrous start to their Premier League campaign. The Hammers have registered four consecutive wins in recent weeks and their newly-found consistency has fired them up to 9th in the standings.
Manuel Pellegrini spent a fortune in the summer to bolster his squad ahead of the season and West Ham made eyeballs turn with the marquee signings of Felipe Anderson, Issa Diop and Andriy Yarmolenko. The acquisition of Jack Wilshere as a free-agent was also seen as a big bonus for the east Londoners.
The Hammers have suffered a major setback with injuries to several of their key players. Having spent loads of money in the summer, they are unlikely to spend too much in January. In fact, they should streamline the squad by offloading some of the fringe players.
Here are 2 players that they should offload in January:-
1. Reece Oxford
The highly-rated academy product made his debut back in the 2015-16 season but he spent time on loan at Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach in the following seasons after failing to cement his place in the first-team.
Oxford, who has been a regular for England at the youth level, didn’t play in the Premier League for the Hammers last season and hasn’t got in look in this term either.
With Issa Diop and Favian Balbuena flourishing at the heart of the defence for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, the 19-year-old is unlikely to get any substantial playtime.
Hence, it would be ideal for the Hammers to loan him out as he is a player with potential and has the ability to make a name for himself in the first-team in the years to come.
2. Winston Reid
The New Zealand World Cup star is yet to feature for West Ham this season as he continues to be on the treatment table to nurse a long-term injury. The 30-year-old has been a seasoned campaigner for West Ham and made 17 appearances in the Premier League last term.
However, he is unlikely to be back in the reckoning under Manuel Pellegrini once he recovers from his injury. Summer arrivals Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop have excelled at the heart of the defence, resulting in Reid’s slip down the pecking order at the club. Angelo Ogbonna hasn’t had much playtime this season and Reid can’t expect any better when he makes his comeback.
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Still only 30, he has plenty to offer at the highest level and a move away from the London Stadium would help him get regular first-team action.
