Reports claim Manchester City are considering a formal approach for young West Ham defender Reece Oxford. The Champions League semi-finalists are on the look-out for top English talent and the 17–year-old centre half is high on their list of considerations for next season claim the Daily Mail.
Oxford is one of the best products of West Ham’s Academy in recent years and burst on to the scene earlier this season when he starred in the 2-0 win against Arsenal at the Emirates. Oxford was crowned Young Hammer of the year last night at the Player Awards.
The West Ham board have always been clear, they are no longer a selling club and will everything and anything possible to keep hold of their best talent this summer.
Earlier this season, West Ham joint-owner David Sullivan said of Oxford ‘We are optimistic he will be here for a long time. We will keep him. He is an exceptional talent. He is the highest paid 17-year-old in the history of the club.
‘He signed for two years at the age of 17 and that’s the maximum length allowed for a player of that age.
‘That can make a club that has invested in and developed a player very vulnerable and it can make you worry.’
We need to play him to keep him,
Other clubs will offer more money and playing time,we are in the driving seat but if we fail to show him he has a future now he will move,
We have 1 year left max or he will go,
WBA proved this week at 17 a player has the ability to play now,he proved against Arsenal he is good enough and that was half a year away,
Some people mature quicker then others,Paul Allen proved age is not a problem,
Have always been an Oxford fan and as bubs has said he will have his head turned if we don’t give him game time.Is Bilic doing an Allardyce with our youth?
We HAVE to keep Reece. he is going to be something special and if DG and Ds are serious about becoming competitors for the league we can not let this kid go to a rival (or anyone).
I would imagine his advisers have been touting him behind the clubs back for sometime now . If the people acting on his behalf care for the lads future , then they will surely advise him to stay here and develop his game to the full potential , if on the other hand they are more interested in making a fast buck ,they will be trying to persuade him to move to someone like City . They can make it seem like a really good move for a youngster and i have no doubt he will be tempted by the thought of playing in the Champions League although the reality may work out somewhat different . Lets hope someone points out why City really want him , which is just to make up the homegrown numbers in their squad !
The papers will be full of this kind of stuff all summer.Most is only worthy of ignoring.I don’t mind giving Oxford games if he brings something to the team or improves it.Playing him just to keep him happy is bolloxs as far as I’m concerned.
As it works Reece could be very happy with us at the moment developing his game,He is just 17,he knows he has to put in the hard yards to get into the first team.I suggest we don’t all go knee jerking just because a paper runs a story.Just my opinion boys 😉
Pep like mall squads, if he goes to City he wont be played that much…