Phil Sumbler
When January arrives, West Ham United will need to make a decision on whether they want to continue the loan of Armstrong Oko-Flex at the Swans.
As with Brentford and Fin Stevens they are in a position where they need to make a decision whether to recall the player to spend the second half of the season in and around their squad or leave him to continue with whatever game time he can get at Swansea.
On August 25th, Oko-Flex was an 82nd minute substitute for West Ham in their Europa Conference League tie at Viborg which means that he now cannot represent a third club during the course of this season.
Current FIFA transfer regulations state that a player can only be allowed to be registered with a maximum of three clubs in one season.ย ย This would mean that Oko-Flex could move to another club this season however he player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs.
The only way this could change is if he went to a club with an overlapping season (i.e. one where the start of the season was at a different time of year)ย ย West Ham are therefore faced with a decision that means if they take Oko-Flex back to the London Stadium it will be to be part of their squad and to develop under their watch as opposed to here in SA1.
Oko-Flex has played thirteen times for the Swans although he has started just one game this season but that maybe enough to persuade the Hammers that he should stay here in South Wales with first team football being seen as key to the players development – something that he is likely not to achieve should they elect to recall as is their entitlement.
For Brentford the decision with Fin Stevens appears to be a different one.ย The player has struggled to make any impact here at Swansea and it is reported that the Bees are keen to have him in their squad and do see first team opportunities coming his way.
This one seems much more straight forward to call and it has been suggested by more than one source that the Swans are anticipating Fin returning up the M4 relatively early on in the January window.
The same sources are suggesting that the Swans are keen to hold onto Oko-Flex though and the FIFA guidelines could make that much more likely.ย Russell Martin may end up forever grateful to those eight minutes back in August.
