It’s fair to say that Malcom Ebiowei’s time on loan at Oxford United hasn’t gone as anyone would have liked so far.
The Crystal Palace loanee has played just 64 minutes of Championship football since moving to the Kassam Stadium in the summer, and he hasn’t made a matchday squad since the middle of November.
Des Buckingham, the man who brought Ebiowei to Oxford United, was sacked in December, but that hasn’t changed things for the 21-year-old, and he’s yet to make a matchday squad under new boss Gary Rowett either.
Given his lack of playing time at the Kassam Stadium, it’s been reported by the South London Press that he will be recalled by parent club Palace when the transfer window opens.
With that in mind, using Capology we’ve taken a look at just how much Ebiowei is earning amid his potential Crystal Palace recall.
Malcolm Ebiowei’s weekly wage at Oxford United
It must be stressed that for this information we are using Capology, and while it’s not always 100% factual, it provides us with an excellent insight into player wages.
According to Oxford United’s Capology page, Ebiowei is the club’s sixth highest-earner this season, earning a weekly wage of £10,000.
|
Oxford United’s highest earners – Capology |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Weekly Wage |
Annual Salary |
|
1st |
Matt Phillips |
£17,500 |
£910,000 |
|
2nd |
Cameron Brannagan |
£15,000 |
£780,000 |
|
3rd |
Siriki Dembélé |
£15,000 |
£780,000 |
|
4th |
Przemyslaw Placheta |
£15,000 |
£780,000 |
|
5th |
Will Vaulks |
£12,500 |
£650,000 |
|
6th |
Malcolm Ebiowei |
£10,000 |
£520,000 |
It remains to be seen whether his wages are being split between Oxford and Palace, but it remains a significant outlay for the Yellows for a player who has barely featured this season.
Perhaps, as you’d expect for a newly promoted side, Oxford have one of the lowest wage bills in the division, with only the likes of Portsmouth, QPR and Plymouth Argyle below them in terms of how much is being spent on their squad, so the chance to free up Ebiowei’s wages could allow them to strengthen in January.
With it looking likely that Ebiowei will be recalled in January, it frees up a loan spot for Oxford to use, and Rowett will be looking to bring in a player that will feature more regularly and perhaps isn’t such a high earner.
Ending Malcolm Ebiowei’s loan spell at Oxford United makes sense for all parties
Oxford United supporters were excited when Ebiowei joined the club, but things just haven’t worked out for the Crystal Palace man.
Understandably, Palace won’t want one of their promising youngsters on a loan spell where he’s not playing, so it makes sense for them to recall him in January and send him to a club where he will feature.
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The right-back has struggled for minutes with the Rams so far this season.
Oxford won’t miss Ebiowei so it won’t be a blow to them as he’s not been able to force his way into the matchday squad despite the club struggling in the lower echelons of the Championship table.
As their estimated sixth highest-earner, the hierarchy at the Kassam Stadium will be fully aware that the money they’re spending on Ebiowei could be better spent elsewhere, and the 21-year-old’s loan being terminated in January makes sense for everyone involved.