Nathan Holland will head to Oxford United on loan during the January transfer window, according to ExWHUemployee.
What’s the story?
The West Ham United insider has suggested that Holland will temporarily head to the League One high-flyers, following Sunday’s FA Cup tie away at Gillingham.
He is highly regarded among many West Ham fans, having picked up Premier League 2 Player of the Month for November, after being nominated the previous month, as reported by the club’s official channels.
It now seems as though the 21-year-old will have the opportunity to prove his credentials over an extended period at senior level with the move to the Kassam Stadium.
That the Gillingham game is mentioned in the tweet implies that the winger could also be set to feature in that game for West Ham.
Smart move
This should be a good move for the youngster, who has 11 goals and six assists in 12 Premier League 2 games this campaign.
It can be suggested that he is outgrowing the reserve leagues, something that is backed up by his age, statistics and aforementioned accolade wins.
He has made two substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, as well as getting a start in the Carabao Cup loss against Oxford, but that isn’t enough.
His development will probably benefit from regular first-team football, something that will not likely be forthcoming at London Stadium, meaning a loan is his best option right now.
Specifically looking at Oxford, this seems like a good fit for him, as they sit fourth in the League One table, but could go second if they win their game in hand.
In addition, Karl Robinson’s side were referred to as “entertainers” by The Guardian ahead of their Carabao Cup tie against Manchester City, indicating that Holland will be able to express himself at his temporary new club.
Overall, this seems like it could turn out to be a good move for all of the involved parties.
In other news, West Ham fans reacted to a magic moment against Bournemouth.