da blaze casino: West Ham United defender Angelo Ogbonna has been linked with a move to Italian outfit Bologna by La Gazzetta dello Sport, via reporting by Calcio Mercato, which could present Reece Oxford one last chance for a West Ham future.
What’s the word?
da wazamba: La Gazzetta dello Sport are claiming that Bologna are close to reaching an agreement with West Ham, that will see Ogbonna move to the Serie A in January.
It is not reported how much the potential transfer will see the Irons net, having spent £22.5million for Issa Diop and a further £3.6m for Fabian Balbuena in the summer.
The strong form displayed by the duo since their arrival at the London Stadium has seen Ogbonna’s minutes on the field reduced significantly, starting just four times in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s trip to Burnley.
The 13-cap Italy international had been a regular in the line-up when fit since joining from Juventus in 2015 for £9.9million – making a total 108 appearances in claret and blue.
TransferMarkt now value the 30-year-old at £7.2million, although his contract does not expire until 2022.
Check out the video below to see Playmaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…
One last chance for Oxford
Ogbonna’s potential exit is not the only departure on the cards at the London Stadium, with the Mirror suggesting that Arsenal and Everton are considering bids for youth sensation Oxford.
The 20-year-old burst out of the youth ranks to make his senior debut in July 2015 – featuring against Andorran minnows Lusitans in the Europa League – and become the club’s youngest-ever player at the age of 16.
His career has not progressed in the same fashion since the first qualifying round match in July 2015, with the former prodigy only handed a further 16 appearances for the east Londoners.
A potential departure for the experienced Ogbonna, however, could force Pellegrini to offer his outcast defender an olive branch with the potential to save his faltering Hammers career.
The 6 foot 3 defender, who can also play in defensive midfield, will also have to put some groundwork in, after displeasing his Chilean coach following an interview with the Sunday Times, in which he claimed he should be getting the same chances as fellow youngsters Declan Rice and Grady Diangana.
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