West Ham United could be set to make a loan move for Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whose Anfield dream could be coming to an end.
According to The Express, West Ham United are plotting to make a loan bid for Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Hammers finished in the sixth spot last season and will play in the Europa League in the upcoming campaign. However, David Moyes’ side will be without Felipe Anderson and Jesse Lingard, two players who would have added much to the Londoners’ attack on their European adventure.
Of the two, it is arguably Lingard who will be the bigger miss. The English ace was amongst the finest players in the Premier League in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign. Replacing the goals and assists he made will prove to be Moyes’s biggest challenge this summer.
With the United ace seemingly out of the picture, the Hammers are casting their net elsewhere to bring in a replacement. While their priority is West Bromwich Albion ace Matheus Periera, Oxlade-Chamberlain is a viable alternative alongside Chelsea outcast Ross Barkley.
The 27-year-old has been the ‘almost man’ at Liverpool since joining them from Arsenal in 2017. While he has produced some eye-catching displays, injuries and a lack of consistency have prevented him from cementing a spot as a regular at Anfield. His future at the club is now in question, and West Ham are ready to pounce.
The Hammers are keen to take the player on loan, and Liverpool, for their part, do appear to be willing to sanction a departure. Securing Oxlade-Chamberlain will give Moyes a versatile player who can fulfil a variety of functions. At 27, he is in the prime of his career and also has a point to prove. Capable of playing in midfield and attack, the Englishman could become a key lynchpin for the Hammers.
Add to it his ability to carry the ball and the eye for goal, and the Londoners could very well have a gamechanger on their hands. While there are certainly upsides to signing him, it is not without its risks. Oxlade-Chamberlain missed a total of 74 games for Liverpool in his four years at the club. The Hammers are not unknown to make moves for injury-hit players.
Both Jack Wilshere and Andy Carroll were brought in despite their injury history. Neither played left a lasting impact at the club and have since moved on.Whether those unsavoury experiences are what is prompting West Ham to opt for a loan deal for Ox remains to be seen. Perhaps curiously, it is difficult to see what Liverpool gain by letting the player go out on loan.
Liverpool lack strength in depth, and letting go of the Ox will leave them another man short ahead of what could be a gruelling campaign. While selling him outright will boost their transfer kitty, the prospect of losing a home-grown player is not something the club can afford right now. Wherever he ends up, Oxlade-Chamberlain is certain to face a pivotal season that could make or break his career at the top.
