It has been reported by the Guardian that Reece Oxford’s move to Augsburg now only has a 50/50 chance of being completed.
The stumbling block in the proposed £4million transfer is said to be his personal demands, something he should put to the side if it becomes the difference between him moving and staying.
The 20-year-old has often openly displayed his desire to move to Germany – having complained when he was recalled from a loan spell at Borussia Monchengladbach – and now is the time to prove how much he wants to go.
He has next to no chance of making it into the West Ham first team with everything that has happened in the past and it is best for both parties for things to be done quickly.
The Hammers board have claimed the amount they can spend in the window is dependant on the amount they bring in through sales, so moving Oxford on soon could be the difference between signing someone and losing out as another side swoops in.
On the other hand, it would also be of benefit to Oxford to get the move done relatively quickly, as this would allow him to have a full pre-season with his new club rather than being at West Ham – a place he doesn’t seem to want to be anymore – and still negotiating a deal.
It is, of course, important that a player gets what they are worth, but there comes a time when they simply have to move on whether or not they get exactly what they want.
There is a tinge of disappointment that Oxford never reached the pinnacles in East London that superb performance against Arsenal suggested he could.
However, he has become a figure of annoyance and frustration for many a West Ham supporter so it will be a relief when he has left and everyone can move on.