While there might be a smaller pool of talent for clubs in the lower tiers of English football to choose from, one of the better ways to find value is to seek out young players who have recently turned professional at Premier League clubs who are looking for more game time.
As a product of the revered West Ham United Academy, Jacob Knightbridge has made no secret that he’s keen to get playing time.
Granted, West Ham didn’t plan to offer the goalkeeper a new contract anyway by the looks of it, but if he had made his feelings known months ago, then the Hammers wouldn’t have bothered to renew his contract, which would have allowed him to leave on a free transfer. It’s crucial for players who are in the primary stages of their career to gain experience in the top flight, and obviously, if that doesn’t look like it’s going to come into fruition, then the Championship is the next best alternative.
Ins and outs at West Ham
While the big transfer news for the Hammers this summer will revolve around keeping hold of Jarrod Bowen, with the bookmakers having him down as one of Newcastle’s top targets, it will all depend on how well he performs in the Euros. If he plays a key role in England finally winning their first trophy since 1966, his price tag could go through the roof, and this will reflect in the transfer odds.
The best betting sites in the UK will often do their homework on these special markets, as they can offer a niche way to bet on markets that are outside the conventional Premier League betting markets you usually find online. If Bowen has a magical Euros, it may bring bigger clubs than Newcastle into the picture too. However, Moyes is likely to focus on who he can keep out of his starting 11 rather than fringe players who are ultimately surplus to requirements.
Jacob’s place in the Oxford United squad
Over the last few seasons, Oxford United have made it an integral feature of their recruitment strategy to seek out players from Premier League clubs. While it’s not always a strategy that pays off, as most of the time, these players are out of favour and out of contract for a reason, there are still some bargains that can be picked up.
Having made a handful of appearances for the Hammers in Europe, David Moyes clearly didn’t see anything remarkable in Jacob. However, he’s still only 20, and with the longevity that goalkeepers have, Oxford United could be the perfect level for him at this stage of his career before he makes another crack at the Premiership.
Wes Foderingham will be West Ham’s second-choice keeper next season. The transfer hit the sports headlines in the final week of May, and a couple of weeks later, Jacob’s move to Oxford United was finalised.
Oxford boss Des Buckingham reportedly has plans to send Jacob out on loan so that he can get first-team experience before looking to implement him into the starting line-up at the newly promoted Championship club.
Long-term plans
As with any goalkeeper, the goal for Jacob is to nail down his place in the starting 11 and become Oxford’s main man between the sticks. Jamie Cumming had a great season last year and played a big role in helping The U’s gain promotion. Now that he’s back at Chelsea, Jacob will be hoping that he can either prove himself to be a solid replacement or perform on loan to give Buckingham something to think about.
It’s hard to say exactly what Jacob’s plans are long-term. The Hammers wouldn’t have offered him a pro contract out of the academy if he didn’t have something about him. He wouldn’t be the first player to essentially be released by a Premier League team just a couple of years into a pro career who has gone on to achieve big things at the top of English football
However, for now, the main goal will be to try and nail down a starting 11 place in the second tier. If he can, then he has time to set his sights on returning to the top flight — whether it is with Oxford or another club.
Final thoughts
Oxford United has big plans to eventually get into the Premier League, and following last season’s play-off success, they will be keen to strike while the iron is hot. Eyeing up Premier League teams and their fringe talent isn’t a new concept or recruitment strategy, but it’s far from foolproof either.
There are many players who have come to Oxford as highly rated youth players who have struggled to break into the first team, and the U’s have essentially acted as a feeder club for them to carry on their downward spiral to the lower divisions where they have then found their level, which is still a solid level might we add. Jacob will be keen not to join this list, but with so much of his career ahead of him, there’s plenty of time for him to establish himself at Oxford or further afield.
