If West Ham sign Alfie Mawson from Swansea how will it affect Declan Rice and Reece Oxford?
Alfie Mawson of Swansea City clears the ball while under pressure from Sergio Aguero of Manchester City.
Hammers manager David Moyes has made signing a new centre-back a priority in the new year and are prepared to pay £20m plus add-ons for Mawson.
David Moyes, manager of West Ham United, looks on prior to the Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth.
The Swans do not want to lose the 23-year-old with him having impressed since a 2016 move from Barnsley, despite the South Wales side currently struggling at the bottom of the Premier League.
Yet what would West Ham signing Mawson mean for emerging youngsters at the club in the same position?
After making his first team debut last season, Declan Rice has played 13 more times this time around and was one of the few positives during Slaven Bilic’s difficult start to the campaign.
Manchester City’s Leroy Sane (R) vies with West Ham United defender Declan Rice.
Meanwhile, Reece Oxford is currently on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach and has played four times this term but is considered one of the most exciting prospects at the London Stadium.
However, would further competition in central defence in the shape of Mawson hinder Rice and Oxford’s development?
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