West Ham teen Reece Oxford is reportedly interesting Atletico Madrid.
It has been talked about for much of the season. The future of Reece Oxford at boyhood club West Ham United remains in doubt, as he continues to gain valuable minutes in a Borussia Monchengladbach side on loan.
The 19-year-old has managed just five appearances for the Bundesliga side, but that has not stopped the England youth international from attracting big-name suitors to his signature.
The Telegraph claim second-placed La Liga side Atletico Madrid are considering a move for the versatile teenager, with his future at the London Stadium still yet to be decided upon by manager David Moyes.
Rejecting an £8million offer from Gladbach in January before allowing him to join the Germans on loan, Oxford is believed to be valued at around £12million by the Hammers. But surely, right now he is absolutely crucial and must not be sold.
That is because the Hammers are about to sell veteran Euro 2016 winner Jose Fonte to the Chinese Super League for a fee of £4.8million, with the Daily Record claiming he is set to join Dalian Yifang.
The Chinese transfer window remains open and that should see Fonte leave immediately. That leaves Moyes with just Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice and James Collins at centre-back, but doubts remain over the latter.
Collins, 34, is in the final months of his current West Ham contract and is yet to see an extension tabled in order to remain at the London Stadium despite his excellent form and leadership at the back during Moyes’ turnaround.
Collins, who is reportedly earning £35,000 a week according to the Daily Star, is yet to learn the extent of his future at West Ham and that makes Oxford’s return in the summer all the more necessary. The teen must be kept not only for his potential, but for his cover.
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