Hannover 96 have launched a move to sign West Ham defender Reece Oxford as they step up their search for a new centre-back, according to Kicker.
The German magazine claim the Bundesliga club have identified three centre-backs based in England as potential replacements for recent departee Salif Sane – Southampton’s Jan Bednarek, Sunderland’s Papy Djilobodji and West Ham youngster Oxford.
Kicker report Hannover started work last week on signing Oxford, who could be the defensive partner this season for ex-Tottenham man Kimmer Wimmer after he joined the club this summer on a season-long loan from Stoke City.
Good move for West Ham?
The jury is still out on Oxford, who has failed to live up to the enormous promise showed when strolling through his debut aged 16 against Arsenal like to the manor born. Since then, he has suffered growing pains and it is telling that he failed to establish himself in the first team of Reading or Borussia Monchengladbach during loan spells in the last two seasons. Hannover are certainly in need of centre-backs but and don’t have the budget of one of the Bundesliga big spenders, so could be willing to take a punt on a player whose departure would certainly ease the pressure on the West Ham wage bill and potentially pave the way for a more lucrative deal for someone like Declan Rice.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10
Likely to happen?
Given that Sky Sports have reported the Hammers are willing to do a deal as long as their £10million valuation is met, this is certainly on the cards. Hannover have showed in recent years they are keen to recruit rising stars with the potential to develop quickly and climb in value, and a number of talented young English players have swapped life on the Premier League fringes for regular starting roles in the Bundesliga. It is highly possible West Ham could offload Oxford on an initial loan with a view to the deal becoming permanent in January.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10